14 militants, 8 soldiers killed in Afghanistan in one day

Some 14 militants have been killed during Afghan army operations since early Saturday, the country's Defense Ministry said on Sunday morning.

"Afghan army carried out cleanup operations in Ghazni, Helmand and Zabul provinces over the past 24 hours, killing 14 armed opponents, including an insurgent local leader and a foreign militant and injuring five others," the ministry said in a statement.

The statement also confirmed losing eight army soldiers in roadside bombings and enemy firing within the same period.

The army specialists found and defused 22 roadside bombs and landmines across the country since early Saturday, according to the statement.

The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments.