Two Afghan soldiers and five private security guards were killed in a series of Taliban attacks in Afghanistan, officials said today. Meanwhile, Afghan and NATO forces killed 40 militants in latest operations, military officials said. The two soldiers were killed and six others were injured in roadside bombings in southern provinces of Zabul, Uruzgan and Helmand on Friday, dpa quoted the Defence Ministry as saying in a statement. Also in southern region, Taliban attacked a convoy of private security firm in Ghazni province on Friday, killing five guards, Interior Ministry said in a statement. Three fuel tankers were also torched in the attack, it said. Afghan army personnel stationed in the province were deployed to the area and six insurgents were killed in the ensuing battle with the militants, an army statement said. It did not however confirm the death toll among the security guards. Separately, in the northern province of Baghlan, Afghan and NATO troops launched an operation Friday in Dana Ghori district, Jawed Basharat, spokesman for Baghlan's police chief, said.
