Separate conflicts leave 13 militants dead in S. Afghanistan

23 June KABUL (Xinhua) : Thirteen Taliban militants were killed after clashes with Afghan national army soldiers in two Afghan provinces, the Ministry of Defense said Tuesday.

In southern Kandahar province, nine Taliban insurgents were killed when they faced a counter-attack from army soldiers in Maiwand district’s Jagrum village late on Monday night, the ministry said in a statement.

In neighboring Helmand province, four militants were killed when they confronted harsh response from the patrolling convoy of security forces in Marja district on Monday evening, the statement added.

Government forces also confiscated heavy arms and ammunition including improvised bombs, one telecommunication radio, as well as one vehicle and eight motorcycles and an amount of narcotics during the two conflicts, according to the statement.

The latest clashes came as militancy and counter-militancy traditionally gets momentum in spring and summer commonly known as fighting season in Afghanistan.Sporadic clashes and fighting occur in countryside as Taliban militants have been attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions.