By KUNA
Kabul : At least 25 Taliban fighters and two civilians were killed in fighting in southern Afghanistan, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.
A ministry statement said those killed also included Mullah Naqibullah, a wanted commander who escaped twice from prison in the war-ravaged country.
The ministry said the operation was conducted in Nad Ali district of Helmand province.
Two civilians were killed in the firing between the two sides, locals said.
Taliban has not issued any comment thus far.
Southern Afghanistan is once again becoming volatile. In face of the increasing incidents of violence in the country, the UN Thursday said that many refugees in Iran and Pakistan were reluctatant to return to their country mainly because of the deteriorating security situation there.