The Dasht-e-Qala district in northern Takhar province was cleared of Taliban militants following a military operation launched by government forces, Ministry of Defense said.

The ministry said in a statement that at least 40 insurgents including their commander Mullah Mohamad Ghazal were killed and 36 others were wounded in the operation.

The operation was launched last week to clear the area. Meanwhile, the roads to Dasht-e-Qala and Khwaja Bahauddin have been opened to the traffic, the statement said.

The statement did not provide further details about the operation.

Taliban has not yet commented on the report. 

The operation launched a week after the militant group attacked the district and captured the center of the district for many hours.