20 militants killed in Afghanistan

"The Afghan National Defence and Security Forces carried out 12 clean-up operations and 15 special operations in nine provinces in the past 24 hours, killing 20 insurgents and injuring 33 others," Xinhua reported quoting the Ministry.

The Afghan air force also launched airstrikes, destroying four militants' hideouts over the period, the Ministry statement said, without elaborating about casualties on the side of the security forces.

The Afghan troops have beefed up military operations as the Taliban militants and Islamic State terrorists are attempting to capture territory and consolidate their positions ahead of winter in the mountainous country.