KABUL, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Afghan army killed five militants and arrested three suspects following a cleanup operation on the outskirts of Kabul, the Defense Ministry said on Friday.
The ministry said in a statement that the operation was launched on Thursday in Koh-i-Safi district, Kabul province after intelligence reports indicated militants' activities in the district, northeast of capital city of Kabul.
The arrested militants were shifted to an army base for questioning.
Afghan security forces, backed by the U.S.-led NATO coalition troops, have increased ground and air offensives against militants in the past few months as the country is preparing for parliamentary and district council elections slated for Oct. 20 this year.
The Taliban insurgent group, which has been waging an insurgency of more than 17 years, has yet to make comments.
