Afghan security forces backed by NATO-led coalition troops eliminated 20 Taliban militants including two commanders and detained over a dozen others during overnight operation in northeast Takhar province, spokesman for provincial administration Faiz Mohammad Tawhidi said Thursday.
"The combined forces conducted overnight operation against Taliban hideouts in Darquad and Yangi Qala districts Wednesday night as a result some 20 militants including two Taliban commanders namely Mawlawi Jawadullah and Malawi Nazikmir were killed," Tohidi told Xinhua.
Over a dozen insurgents were captured during the operation, he further said.
However, Taliban militants have yet to make comments.
Takhar and Kunduz the relatively peaceful provinces bordering Tajikistan have been the scene of Taliban-led militancy since early this year.
Meantime, NATO-led troops in a statement released Thursday said that Coalition forces conducted a precision airstrike and follow-on operation in Takhar province Wednesday, killing Mawlawi Jawadullah, the Taliban district leader for Yangi Qalah of Takhar, along with seven of his associates.