Twelve Taliban militants were killed in clashes with police and US forces on Saturday, while five Afghan soldiers were killed in roadside bomb attacks around Afghanistan, officials said Sunday, according to DPA. A group of Taliban fighters attacked a police post in Geriskh district of southern Helmand province on Saturday night, Daoud Ahmadi, spokesman for the provincial governor said. "The fighting lasted for two hours and as a result nine Taliban fighters were killed and seven others were wounded," Ahamdi said adding that three police forces were also wounded. The clash took place in the same day as four Taliban militants were killed and four civilians were wounded in airstrikes by NATO-led forces in Nad Ali district of the same province. Helmand, the largest opium-producing province in the country, is also the main hub for Taliban activities. Afghan officials believe that foreign fighters are stationed in the province and often cross border into Pakistan, where they say the militants have safe havens. Four Afghan army soldiers were killed and two were wounded when their vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb in eastern province of Kunar on Saturday, Afghan defence ministry said in a statement. Another soldier was killed and one more was wounded in a similar attack in Gerishk district of Helmand province also on Saturday, the statement added. US-led troops killed three militants and detained four others during an operation that targeted Hezb-e-Islami group in north-eastern province of Kapisa on Saturday, the US military said. The operation took place in Tagab district and targeted an rebel commander involved in moving weapons and foreign fighters into the region, it said in a statement.
