Taliban commander among 12 killed in Afghanistan's northern province

FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Government forces launched an overnight operation in Afghanistan northern province of Badakhshan, killing at least 12 militants including a local commander, said an army statement released here Thursday.

During the operations backed by fighting planes, the security forces targeted a Taliban hideout in Nusay district's Lawakha area, killing 12 armed militants including their commander Qari Samiullah on the spot, the statement asserted.

Seven more militants were wounded in the raid, the statement added.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of Badakhshan province with Faizabad as its capital 315 km northeast of Kabul have not commented.