20 Taliban militants killed as major operation launched

Kabul: NATO-led forces killed more than 20 Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan on Sunday after launching a special offensive to drive out insurgents.

Operation Medusa came into affect in the southern Kandahar province on Saturday when Afghan and NATO-led troops focused on a militant stronghold in the Panjwayi area.

An International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) spokesman said special emphasis was placed on “driving out the insurgents'' so Afghans in the area could “return to their homes and orchards to sustain their livelihood''.

The operation is ongoing and will continue for some time.