ISAF troops kill 5 insurgents in Afghanistan

Five insurgents were killed on Tuesday when troops with the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) raided their position in Wardak province 35 km west of capital city of Kabul, an official said on Wednesday. "Five armed militants were busy in planting anti-vehicle mines in Luwri area of Sayyedabad district of Wardak province late on Tuesday but troops with ISAF targeted their position killing all on the spot," a spokesman for provincial government, Shahidullah Shahid told Xinhua. The ISAF troops also found a handful of weapons besides destroying all explosive materials on the spot, Shahid said, adding the bodies of deceased militants were handed over to local elders on Wednesday morning. According to Shahid, three civilians including a woman were killed when a mine, planted by Taliban, blasted in Kashmiryan area of provincial capital Maidan Shar on Monday. The Seyyedabad district has been regarded as Taliban stronghold in Wardak province. Thirty U.S. forces with ISAF, seven Afghan commandos and a local translator were killed when an ISAF helicopter was reportedly shot down by suspected Taliban fighters on Aug. 6. Taliban insurgents have yet to make comments. Afghan National Army, backed by NATO-led ISAF forces, on Sunday launched a major offensive against insurgents in restive eastern Afghan provinces bordering Pakistan, Afghan Defense Minister General Abdul Rahim Wardak said on Tuesday.