Afghan police kill 16 insurgents, capture 31 in past 24h

Afghan police backed by army and NATO-led troops have carried out series of operations and eliminated more than a dozen anti-government insurgents across the country over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a press release on Monday. "Afghan National Police with the assistance of the Afghan National Army and Coalition forces launched 13 joint operations over the past 24 hours in several parts of the country during which 16 armed insurgents were killed and 31 others made captive," the press release said. During the operations, Afghan National Police also discovered and seized a large amount of light and heavy weapons, the press release added. The press release, however, did not say if there were any casualties on the security forces. Taliban militants fighting Afghan and NATO-led troops have yet to make comment.