The NATO military claimed Tuesday to have killed about 20 suspected Taliban militants in artillery and airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan, DPA reported.
The strikes were conducted in Ghaziabad district of Kunar province Tuesday morning after Afghan and NATO troops were attacked by a group of insurgents, NATO said.
"While continuing to receive fire, they called for artillery and close air support who engaged the insurgent firing positions," it said. "Initial reports indicate approximately 20 insurgents were killed in the engagement, with no civilian casualties."
Insurgents are active in Kunar and other eastern provinces which share a long border with Pakistan. Militants are widely believed to plot attacks on Afghan and coalition forces from safe havens inside Pakistani tribal areas.
Tuesday's clash came a day after a rogue Afghan border police officer turned his weapon on NATO soldiers, killing six of them. The incident took place during training exercise in the eastern province of Nangarhar.