16 militants killed in Afghanistan in last 24 hours

A total of 16 militants have been killed in separate operations across Afghanistan, authorities said Monday."Afghan National Police (ALP) supported by the army and the NATO-led coalition forces launched several cleanup operations in Kunar, Nangarhar, Kapisa, Jawzjan, Kandahar, Zabul, Wardak, Ghazni, Paktya and Helmand provinces over the last 24 hours. As a result 12 armed Taliban insurgents were killed and one armed insurgent was wounded," the country's Interior Ministry said in a statement.In addition, four militants were killed and five others were arrested when the joint forces conducted a search operation in Shiram area of Sari Pul, capital city of northern Sari Pul province overnight, the provincial police chief Abdul Raoof Taj told Xinhua Monday.The security forces have recently intensified operations across the country as spring and summer known as the fighting season is drawing near.The Taliban insurgent group, which is fighting an insurgency of more than one decade, has yet to make comments