8 militants killed in military operations in Afghanistan

KABUL, March 9 (Xinhua) -- At least eight militants were killed and five others wounded in two military operations in AFGHAN provinces, authorities said Saturday.

In one incident, six Taliban were killed and five others wounded after security forces raided a Taliban hideout in remote Kuran Wa Munjan district of northern Badakhshan province Friday night, Ghulam Hazrat Karimi, a press officer of army's Division 20 Pamir, told Xinhua.

The security forces and civilians have not suffered any damage during the raid, he said.

In another incident, a local Taliban leader, Mawlana Mansor, together with a bodyguard were killed during the operation carried out by AFGHAN Special Operations Forces in Andar district of eastern Paktika province on Friday, the country's Ministry of Interior Affairs confirmed in a statement.

The AFGHAN security forces, backed by the NATO-led coalition troops, have increased ground and air offensives against militants within the past few months as the Taliban militant group has been attempting to take territory and consolidate its position during the winter in AFGHANistan.

Taliban militants have not made a comment on the report yet.