DHAKA: At least 137 Taliban insurgents and three Afghan soldiers were killed in an Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) operation in eastern Nangarhar province in the past week.

Local officials said, tolonews.com reports.

Fifty-three other insurgents were injured in the operation.

The operation launched seven days ago and is still underway in Sherzad district of the province to clear the region of militants, said Dadan Lawang, a military commander in Nangarhar.

There were no civilian casualties during the operation, he added.

The Taliban have only confirmed the death of nine insurgents during the operation.

Before this operation in Sherzad, the ANSF launched a military operation in Hesarak district of the province in which dozens of Taliban insurgents were killed.

The operation in Hesarak was launched after hundreds of Taliban insurgents attacked the district and began clashes with Afghan forces over a week ago.

Recently, the insurgents have become active in the eastern parts of the country, frequently targeting the Afghan forces.

BDST: 1255 HRS, AUG 12, 2014