Kabul: Fifteen suspect militants have died during clashes with NATO and Afghan forces and authorities have also arrested a senior Taliban commander, according to the government.

The militants died during clashes on Saturday in Kandahar, part of a week-long operation by NATO and Afghan troops.

Authorities said they also arrested a militant leader called Abdul Jabar, a deputy of top Afghan fighter Mansoor Dadullah, who was apprehended in February.

Police also recovered a number of weapons and ammunitions.