11 militants killed, several villages liberated during cleanup operation in S. Afghanistan

TIRIN KOT, Afghanistan, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- A total of 11 militants have been killed in Gizab district of Afghanistan's southern Uruzgan province as cleanup operation has been continuing in the restive area, said an army statement released here on Thursday.

Several villages including Taliban main bastion Gharchino have been liberated from the Taliban clutches during the operations, the statement added.

Without providing more details, the statement said that the crackdown on the armed insurgents would continue in Gizab district and its vicinity to ensure lasting peace there.

Taliban militants who are operational in parts of Uruzgan and in neighboring Zabul and Helmand provinces have not made comments on the report yet.