11 militants, 2 policemen killed in NW. Afghanistan

KABUL, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Conflict and Taliban-related violence claimed the lives of more than a dozen people in the Northwest Badghis province of Afghanistan, police said Monday.

"A joint operation of Afghan and NATO-led troops in Balamirghab district Sunday has left eight rebels dead," provincial police chief Syed Ahmad Sami told Xinhua.

He also added that militants raided a police checkpoint in the neighboring Qadis district Sunday afternoon, killing two police constables.

Three militants were also killed when police returned fire, he further said. However, he confirmed that three policemen had gone missing from the checkpoint. Locals said Taliban fighters apparently took them away.

Taliban militants have not made comment.

Meantime, locals say that air strikes against Taliban hideouts in Balamirghab district claimed the lives of three civilians and injured four others. But Sami declined to make comment.