News - Afghanistan

A Taliban commander was wounded and several insurgents were killed in an Afghan security forces operation in the central Maidan Wardak province on Monday night, local officials said.

The operation in Daimir Dad village of Jalriz district aimed to clear the area of insurgents, provincial police spokesman Abdul Wali said.

"During the operation a Taliban commander named Noor Agha was wounded," he told TOLOnews.

"There is no exact information about the number of casualties as the operation is ongoing," he added, but confirmed several Taliban insurgents were killed or injured.

The operation started three days after militants killed five Afghan security guards who worked at a Nato base in the same district.

Six guards were abducted by the insurgents, reportedly Taliban, on Saturday afternoon in the Mullah Khil area of Jalriz district, but one escaped.

The bodies were left along a road surrounded by improvised explosive devices. The bodies showed signs of torture and gunshot wounds.

Wardak province shares its eastern border with Kabul province. Taliban insurgents have become more active in the area, frequently targeting police checkpoints.