MAIMANA (PAN): Forty-three militants were killed, wounded and captured during an Afghan-led operation in northern Faryab province, an official said Monday.

The offensive -- codenamed Tolo-i-Khurshid (Sunrise), was conducted by the Afghan National Army (ANA) in Almar, Qaisar and Ghormach districts.

Gen. Zalmay Weesa, 209th ANA Corps commander, told Pajhwok Afghan News that 20 insurgents were killed, 17 wounded and six others captured alive.

The dead included Mullah Hamza, Mullah Ahmed Lal, Mullah Khel Malang, Abdul Rahman and a rebel commander from Uzbekistan, the general said.

Security personnel seized weapons, ammunitions, explosive materials, a vehicle, four motorcycles and propaganda materials.

A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, said six Afghan soldiers were killed in a guerrilla assault on their tank in Faryab. But Weesa said only four soldiers were killed and five others wounded.

nz/mud