According to a statement by the defense ministry, the latest casualties to the Afghan army and the anti-government armed militants were incurred in the past 24 hours in various provinces of the country, Khaama Press reported.

The statement further added that the operations were conducted with the support of the artillery units of the Afghan army and the Afghan Air Force.

At least 40 of the militants were killed in Khoshamand Zerok and Khairkot districts of Paktika province and a 9 militants were killed in Samkanai and Janikhel districts of Paktia province, the statement said.

The ministry in its statement also added that 17 militants were killed during a separate operation in Dahana-e-Ghori district of Baghlan and 5 more militants were killed in separate operations conducted in Laghman and Faryab provinces.

At least 11 soldiers of the Afghan National Army (ANA) forces also lost their lives during the same operations, the ministry said, although there are no reports regarding the casualties of the security personnel belonging to other security institutions, including the Afghan National Police  forces.

The anti-government armed militant groups including the Taliban insurgents have not commented regarding the reports so far, FNA reported.

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