Security forces kill 57 Taliban across Afghanistan

Afghan security forces have killed at least 57 Taliban militants and detained several others during cleanup operations in eastern province of Nangarhar, Press TV reports.

Afghan military officials said on Wednesday that the militants were killed in large-scale security operations in Hisarak and some other districts of the volatile province over the past five days.

Several militants were also injured during the raids on militants’ hideouts across the troubled region, the officials added

The officials, however, did not mention whether there were any casualties on the side of Afghan or foreign forces.

Also on Wednesday, Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement that more than three dozen Taliban militants were killed during operations by Afghan national security forces over the past 24 hours.

Sources say the operations were conducted in the Nangarhar, Zabul, Logar, Khost, Paktia, Herat, Helmand and Nimroz provinces of the war-ravaged country.

The Taliban militant group has not yet commented on these developments.

Taliban have recently stepped up their military offensive against US-led and Afghan forces, vowing a new wave of attacks across Afghanistan.

The militant group said it would use “every possible tactic” to inflict casualties on Afghan and US-led forces. They specifically mentioned insider attacks, and bomb attacks.

The announcement prompted the Afghan authorities to beef up security in major cities across the country, including the capital city of Kabul.

The United States and its allies invaded Afghanistan as part of Washington’s so-called war on terror. The offensive removed the Taliban from power, but the country is still gripped by insecurity.