Afghan and NATO forces killed eight insurgents and captured four others in combat operations in the south-eastern region of the country, officials said on Sunday. In Zurmat district of south-eastern province of Paktia, five militants were killed and three others were wounded in an Afghan army operation backed by NATO troops on Saturday, Niaz Mohammad Khalil, district administrative chief, said. He said the operation began in the area after police found the dead bodies of two Afghan security forces in the area. Khalil said one police officer and one army soldier had been kidnapped from their homes by militants during their holidays and were later killed. In the neighboring Khost province, Afghan army and international forces killed three Taliban fighters in combat Saturday, regional army spokesman Colonel Mohammad Gul said. Gul said four other militants were captured in the operation, with no casualties on the side of combined forces. In southern Kandahar province, police seized a car full of explosives and another vehicle used as guide, when the drivers tried to enter Kandahar city, the provincial capital, Sayed Agha Saqib, provincial police chief, said. He said three persons were arrested from the cars and police discovered two roadside bombs in the province. The NATO-led Canadian forces defused the bombs, Saqib was quoted as saying by DPA.
