19 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan

Kabul: At least 19 Taliban militants were killed in a gun battle with the security forces in an Afghan province on Wednesday, authorities said in a statement.

"Security forces in crackdown against militants in Khan Abad and Chardara districts of Kunduz province have killed 19 rebels including notorious Taliban commander Qari Zabihullah," Xinhua news agency quoted the statement, adding that the operation was still on.

Zabihullah was a key Taliban commander who had organised subversive activities, roadside bombings and attacks on government forces across the embattled province in northern Afghanistan.