Afghan Army Says 10 Taliban Militants Killed in Balkh Province

TEHRAN (IQNA) –  At least 10 militants have been killed and over a dozen others injured as government forces launched operations against Taliban fighters in the troubled Chamtal district of Afghanistan's northern Balkh province, the army said on Saturday.

Since launching the operations on Friday, several villages have also been recaptured from the insurgents, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said.

The operations, backed by fighting aircraft, would continue until the area is cleansed of the armed militants, the official added, Xinhua reported.

However, Rezai did not say if there were casualties on the security personnel.

The Taliban have yet to make comment.

Both the Taliban and government forces have stepped up operations since the beginning of talks between the United States and the Taliban in Qatar last November.