29 Taliban insurgent members killed in fresh operations

The Afghan Interior Ministry said on Monday that 29 Taliban insurgents were killed, 12 wounded while 13 other militants were detained in cleanup operations since early Sunday. "The Afghan security forces carried out several raids in Kunduz, Faryab and Ghor provinces within the last 24 hours. They battled the militants, killing 29 Taliban insurgent members, wounding 12 and capturing 13 other militants," the ministry said in a statement. The security forces also seized weapons besides defusing four roadside bombs, the statement added. The war-torn country is due to take over the responsibility for its own security from foreign troops by the end of the year. More than 52,000 NATO-led foreign troops, down from the peak of 130,000 in 2010, are currently being deployed in Afghanistan.