LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Five Taliban militants have been killed during clashes with Afghan security forces in southern Helmand province, local police said Saturday.
The incident happened late on Friday, when Afghan National Police (ANP) clashed with a group of attacking Taliban militants in Camp Bazaar area of Marja district, Mohammad Zaman Hamdard, provincial police spokesman, told Xinhua.
Two Taliban divisional commanders Omari and Musafer were among the killed, the source added.
No ANP member has been killed or injured during the firefight, but three civilians were reported wounded following a militants' mortar attack on their houses in the area, said the spokesman.
The ANP also discovered and defused 15 roadside bombs in Marja and neighboring Nawa districts.
The Taliban outfit has no comment on the incidents yet.
Violence decreased in Afghanistan after a peace deal was signed between the United States and the Taliban in Doha of Qatar as well as a joint declaration issued by the U.S. side and the Afghan government in late February.
Under the agreements, the United States would reduce its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600 within 135 days and all the U.S.-led coalition forces would return home within 14 months from Afghanistan depending on Taliban's meeting the agreement's conditions, including severing ties with terrorist groups and launching direct peace talks with the Afghan government.
