From correspondents in Kabul, Afghanistan, 01:30 PM IST

At least 30 Taliban militants have been killed in clashes with security forces in the southern Afghan province the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, the police said Sunday.

Most of the clashes took place in the districts of Gereshk, Nawad and Nad Ali where the ANSF had been conducting operations since Friday to flush out the insurgents, provincial police chief Mohammad Hussein Andiwal told reporters.

Andiwal said the fire fight continued till early Sunday morning.

One security personnel was killed and four were injured during the operation, he said.

Taliban insurgents who staged a violent comeback three years ago have intensified their activities targeting Afghan and international troops over the past weeks.

Insurgency-related violence has claimed more than 3,000 lives, mostly militants, till date this year.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)