49 militants, 5 soldiers killed in eastern Afghan attack

Up to 49 Taliban insurgents and five soldiers were killed following a Taliban massive attack in Eastern Afghan province of Paktiya, a Defense Ministry official said Tuesday morning. "More than 500 insurgents attacked army after an operation was launched in Paktiya province. 49 militants and five soldiers had been killed," General Mohammad Zahir Azimi, a defense ministry spokesman, said in his twitter account, Xinhua reported. One army soldier was made captive in the engagement. Several foreign militants were also involved in the clash, he said. He said the operation was launched early Monday and ended early Tuesday morning. The army also called in air force support from NATO-led coalition forces. The coalition responded to the attack, he said. Six army soldiers were also wounded in the engagement in the province, 100 km South of Afghan capital Kabul, according to Azimi. Also on Monday, two foreign soldiers were killed as a result of Taliban attacks in Eastern Afghanistan, the NATO-led coalition forces confirmed in a statement. The Taliban insurgent group has intensified attacks in spring and summer known as the fighting season in the war-torn country.