16 militants killed in N. Afghan airstrikes

MAIMANA, AFGHANistan, March 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 16 militants were killed and 15 others wounded after AFGHAN Air Force launched airstrikes against Taliban positions in the country's northern province of Faryab, authorities said Saturday.

"The strikes were launched in Qaysar district and those among the killed were two Taliban divisional commanders named Mullah Harif and Ghyas Uddin," the AFGHAN army's Corps 209 Shaheen based in the region said in a statement.

Large amount of weapons and ammunition and several Taliban's command and control posts were also destroyed following the raids which occurred on Friday, the statement added.

The restive district has been the scene of heavy fighting and clashes between security forces and Taliban for long. More than 1,000 families were displaced during the clashes within the past one month, according to local officials.

The AFGHAN National Defense and Security Forces remain in control of most of the country's population centers and all of 34 provincial capitals, but Taliban insurgents control large portions of rural areas, staging coordinated large-scale attacks against AFGHAN cities and districts since early last year.

The Taliban militant group has not made a comment on the report so far.