6 killed in clash between Taliban, Afghan forces

Five militants and a policeman were killed Monday in a skirmish between Taliban militants and Afghan security forces in Eastern province of Nangarhar, officials said Tuesday. "Afghan army and police launched a cleanup operation in Bati Kot district early Monday morning. A clash took place during the operation which ended late Monday. As a result five militants and one police officer were killed," the provincial government said in a statement, Xinhua reported. Four militants and one army soldier were wounded in the clash in the district, Southeast of the provincial capital of Jalalabad. Afghan army and police took the full operational lead from foreign troops in June this year. The war-torn country is due to take over the responsibility for its own security from foreign troops by the end of 2014. Currently, more than 86,000-NATO-led foreign troops, down from the peak of 130,000 in 2010, are being deployed in Afghanistan. The Taliban insurgent group, which has been waging insurgency for more than one decade, has yet to make comment.