Afghan security forces, in efforts to dislodge Taliban insurgents from the relatively peaceful Baghlan province in north Afghanistan, launched operation Wednesday and so far eliminated eight rebels, a military officer said Thursday.
"The operation dubbed Zhala (hailstone) launched yesterday in central villages of Baghlan province would continue until the area is cleaned up from the militants," Nasir Ahmad Haidery told Xinhua.
Afghan police and army both are involved in the operation, he added. "Five more insurgents have been detained."
When asked if there were any casualties on the government troops, he said only two soldiers got wounded when their vehicle came under attack late last night.
Four more insurgents were killed in a gun battle between the two sides in the same area on Wednesday.
Taliban, whose regime has been toppled in 2001, have vowed to speed up activities this year in Afghanistan.