17 rebels killed in ‘fierce’ Afghan battle: ministry

“Afghan troops were dispatched after the enemy position was identified and a very fierce battle took place,” it said.

“During the battle,which was backed by international forces’ air support and lasted for one hour,17 terrorists were killed,” the statement said,adding that another militant wounded in the fighting was captured.

Militants,mainly remnants of the Taliban regime,have been waging an insurgency to overthrow the US-backed government of President Hamid Karzai since they were ousted from power in a US-led invasion in 2001.

The insurgency has intensified each year since then,with 2009 now the deadliest for Afghan security forces and their international military backers who have deployed more than 1,00,000 troops to defeat the rebellion.