Fighting between Afghan forces and Taliban in a volatile southern province on Thursday left at least 28 militants dead, officials said. The Afghan army and Afghan police carried out a joint operation in the Gereshk district of Helmand province Thursday morning, The Associated Press quoted the Defense Ministry's chief of operations Sher Mohammad Karimi as saying. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, the ministry's spokesman, said 28 Taliban were killed. The two officials said no NATO or U.S. forces were involved.