Up to 30 Taliban
militants, including five local leaders, have been killed in a six-day
operation in the eastern Afghan province of Wardak, the NATO-led
coalition forces confirmed on Thursday.

"Dozens of Afghan
soldiers and police, supported by coalition special operations forces,
concluded a six-day operation against insurgent networks in the Chak
district, Wardak province yesterday, " the coalition or International
Security Assistance Force said in a press release issued here.

"More
than 30 insurgents were killed by Afghan Commandos, Afghan National
Police, Afghan National Army, and coalition forces, who participated in
the operation," the ISAF release said, adding that coalition officials
have confirmed five of the insurgents who were killed were high level
Taliban commanders operating in the area.

The dead Taliban leaders named Ahmad Shah, Mullah Malang, Zubair, Rasul Jan and Wahdat.

Almost three dozen suspected insurgents were detained during the operation in the province 35 km west of Afghan capital Kabul.

"One
Afghan soldier was killed during the operation and one civilian was
injured by insurgent small-arms fire. Members of the combined force
provided immediate assistance and transported the victim to a medical
facility for further treatment," the press release said.

The
Taliban insurgent group, who have been waging an insurgency of more than
one decade, have yet to confirm the death of the insurgent commanders
and fighters.