KABUL - Units of Afghan police backed by the national army have killed 18 Taliban militants during series of operations across the country over the past 24 hours, the Interior Ministry said in a statement released here on Saturday.

The operations were carried out in Kandahar, Farah and Helmand provinces, during which one militant was injured and 13 others made captive, said the statement.

There were no casualties on side of the security forces, the statement contended. ? ? Taliban militants are yet to make comment.