5 insurgents killed, 41 wounded in Afghanistan

Afghan security forces, backed by NATO-led Coalition forces, have eliminated five insurgents and injured 41 others during military operations in different parts of the country over the past 24 hours, Afghan Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. "Afghan National Police (ANP) in collaboration with Afghan National Army (ANA) and Coalition Forces launched 12 joint and independent operations in surrounding areas of the Laghman, Parwan, Kunduz, Sar-e-Pul, Helmand, Nimroz, Zabul, Wardak and Ghazni province killing five armed insurgents and injuring 41 other armed insurgents over the last 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement, providing daily operational updates. A total of 27 other suspected insurgents were arrested by joint forces in the same period of time, it said. ANP also discovered and confiscated five AK-47 assault rifles, one BM-1 bullet, four different types of weapons, five heavy weapons, 11 anti-vehicle mines, one hand grenade, 16kg Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), two pistols and two motorbikes, during the mentioned operations, the statement added. Separately, Afghan National Police arrested four insurgents who were involved in terrorist and destructive attacks in surrounding areas of the Panjwaie District of southern Kandahar province on Tuesday, according to statement. Afghan officials often use the word "insurgents" referring to the Taliban militants. However, the militant group, who launched in May this year spring offensive against Afghan and NATO forces, has yet to make comments.