21 Taliban militants killed in Afghanistan

KABUL - Twenty-one Taliban militants were killed in fighting with security forces in eastern Afghanistan, Xinhua reported Saturday.

The fatalities occurred Friday when Afghan and NATO-led forces carried out ground and air assaults against the militants in Sar Hawza district of Paktika province Friday, the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.

The operation was carried out after intelligence reports suggested that the militants were planning attacks in the area. Huge quantity of arms and ammunitions were seized, it said.

Officials said the Taliban have stepped up their activities in the province.