Afghan officials say security forces have killed at least 12 insurgents and captured more than 28 others in several operations across Afghanistan.
Authorities say the militants were killed Tuesday in fighting in Ghazni province. Local officials say two policemen and an Afghan soldier were wounded.
Afghan and U.S officials say among the captured militants is a commander and at least six members of the Hizb-e-Islami group of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. They say the seven were captured in eastern Nangarhar province.
Meanwhile, the United Nations anti-drug chief, Antonio Maria Costa, called for strong military action by NATO forces to destroy the opium industry in southern Afghanistan. He said the alliance should have a mandate to stop what he called the vicious circle of drugs funding terrorists and terrorists protecting drug traffickers.
In other developments, unidentified gunmen kidnapped a Colombian aid worker and two Afghan employees of a French-funded aid agency in central Wardak province. Local officials say the three disappeared Sunday and that police are looking for them. It is not clear why they were in the remote area.
Separately, a soldier in the U.S.-led coalition died and one was injured when their armored vehicle rolled over during a combat mission in Kunar province late Monday.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.
