MAZAR-I-SHARIF - A hundred militants have been killed and 60 others wounded during a security operation in remote northern Badakhshan province, a military commander claimed on Saturday.

The militant casualties happened in the first phase of the offensive -- codenamed Arrow -- in Warduj district, the 209th Military Corps commander told a news conference in Mazar-i-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province.

Brig. Gen. Zalmai Weesa said the first phase of the operation featuring Afghan army, police and intelligence personnel had been completed successfully.

“Without any need for support from coalition troops, the operation was planned and executed by Afghan forces,” he said, adding the dead included important Taliban figures.

A number of insurgent leaders, including Mullah Ghayas Khoonkhor, Amarullah, Amir Raziq, Hamza, Abdul Qahar, Zabihullah, Shamsul Haq and Attiqullah, were killed, he said.

A dozen villages had been cleared of guerillas and weapons recovered during the offensive, which came after stepped-up attacks on security forces, said Gen. Weesa, who called the operation a litmus test of Afghan forces’ ability. (Pajhwok)