(Xinhua) -- Afghan troops have killed and injured more than three dozen insurgents in Afghanistan's southern Kandahar province, the former stronghold of Taliban, the defense ministry said Sunday. "An operation aimed at cleaning up Daman, Dand and Panjwai districts from militants launched days ago with the support of the U.S.-led Coalition forces have left 18 militants dead," the ministry said in a statement.
It also said that 25 more insurgents had been injured and 15 others made captive. However, it did not say the casualties of Afghan and Coalition troops. Taliban militants fighting Afghan government have yet to make comment.
Afghanistan has witnessed a surge of violence and riot throughout the south to east over the past months while militancy and conflict left more than 2,300 people including over 700 civilians dead in various so far this year.