KABUL - Afghan police backed by the national army and the NATO-led troops have killed 17 Taliban militants and arrested 26 others over the past 24 hours across the country, Interior Ministry said in a statement released on Saturday.

"The national police backed by the national army and the NATO-led coalition forces have killed 17 armed Taliban militants and arrested 26 others during series of operations conducted in Kabul, Kunar, Logar, Ghazni and Paktika provinces over the past 24 hours," the statement contended.

Two more insurgents were wounded during the operations, it furhter said.

No casualties have been reported on the security forces, it stressed.

Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to make comment.