9 troops, 11 militants killed in Afghanistan within day

Some nine Afghan army soldiers have been killed in attacks while 11 militants died in army operations within a day, said the country's Defense Ministry on Monday morning.
"Over the past 24 hours, 11 militants were killed, 11 others wounded during Afghan army operations in six out of country's 34 provinces,"the ministry said in a statement providing daily operational updates.
The soldiers died in separate bomb attacks and enemies'direct fire across the country, according to the statement.
The army specialists found and defused 62 roadside bombs and land mines over the same period in addition to seizing weapons and ammunition, according to the statement.
The Taliban militant group has intensified attacks over the past couple of months as the Afghan security forces assumed the full security responsibility from NATO-led troops since Jan. 1.