KABUL, April 19: Afghan forces and US-led warplanes and troops killed eight Taliban and Al Qaeda-linked rebels and captured 16 others following a gunbattle in southeastern Afghanistan, officials said on Tuesday. The fighting took place on Monday after rebels clashed with government troops in Deh Chopan district of Zabul province, defence ministry spokesman Gen Mohammad Zahir Azimi told AFP.

“Eight Taliban were killed and 16 others were arrested,” he said, adding that four of the captured men were wounded.

At least two of the dead rebels were thought to be Chechen fighters from Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda terror network.

Zabul province, which lies on the rugged Afghan-Pakistani border, is one of the most insurgency-hit regions in Afghanistan where remnants of the ousted Taliban still carry out attacks on foreign and government forces.—AFP