Seven Taliban militants were killed Monday as Afghan and NATO-led forces raided their hideouts in Deyak district of the southern Ghanzi province, provincial police chief said.
"Troops with Afghan National Army (ANA) and police backed by NATO-led forces conducted a cleanup operation in Alo Khil village of Deyak district this morning as a result seven insurgents have been killed," Zarawar Zahid told Xinhua.
He said a handful of weapons and an explosive-laden motorbike, expected be used by a suicide bomber against the security forces have also beed siezed and defused by the troops.
The operation launched at 9 a.m. local time is still going on to wipe out insurgents and ensure viable peace there, the police cheif further said.
However, Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in talks with media via telephone from undisclosed location confirmed the clash, saying two militants were injured in the gunfight. He also claimed killing over a dozen Afghan and NATO troopers, but police officer Zahid rejected the claim as baseless, ephasizing no security personnel has been harmed during the operations.
Ghazni has been the scene of Taliban-led militancy over the past couple of years.
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