The Ministry of Interior (MoI) on Wednesday confirmed that at least 35 Taliban insurgents were killed, 11 injured and nine others arrested during a multi-province operation launched by the Afghans National Security Forces (ANSF) in Kunar, Laghman, Baghlan, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Logar and Ghazni provinces.
"The Afghan National Police (ANP) in coordination with the Afghan National Army (ANA), Afghan Intelligence Service (AIS) and coalition forces conducted several cleanup operations in Kunar, Laghman, Baghlan, Kandahar, Uruzgan, Wardak, Logar and Ghazni provinces. Thirty-five Taliban insurgents were killed, 11 wounded and nine others arrested," the MoI said in its statement.
The statement added that the Afghan forces have seized light and heavy rounds of ammunition and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) from the insurgents and their hideouts.
The Taliban has not yet acknowledged the operation.
Afghan forces have recently launched a series of successful clearing operations in provinces across the country. Just last week, an ANSF operation in northern Baghlan province resulted in the deaths of 17 insurgents, wounding of five and capture of nine others.
The security transition process from NATO forces to Afghan ones started two years ago, and so far 90 percent of security responsibilities have been reportedly handed over to the Afghan forces. NATO officials have repeatedly voiced their confidence in the improving capabilities of the ANSF and have assured Afghans and people back in their own countries that the ANSF will be prepared to assume complete security oversight once the NATO combat mission ends in 2014.