By Zabihullah Tamanna
KABUL
At least 20 militants and five soldiers were killed in clashes in western Afghanistan on Monday.
Afghan forces repelled raids by local and foreign militants on army check posts in the Bala Bolok district of Farah province, a defense ministry statement said.
"At least 20 rebels including three of their commanders, Mullah Ewaz Shaidayee, Mullah Paida Gul and Mullah Ewaz Khanjari were killed while 12 others, including commander Mullah Malik, were injured," the statement said. The wounded militants were detained by the security forces.
Some of the militants fled after troops arrived to reinforce the security forces.
The strategic province of Farah, which shares a border with Iran and the restive Helmand province, has recently been in the news after local Taliban militants rebranded themselves and raised a black flag used by Daesh, the militant group that controls parts of Syria and Iraq.
On Monday, Afghan chief executive Abdullah Abdullah said 60 soldiers had died in a week during battles with Taliban militants.
