MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- The government forces have killed 12 Taliban militants in northern Balkh province over the past 24 hours, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said Saturday.

The Afghan security forces, according to the spokesman, launched cleanup operations in the restive Chamtal district and its vicinity on Friday and so far 12 armed militants had been confirmed dead and 17 others wounded.

No security personnel and civilians had been harmed in the ongoing operations, he said.

Taliban militants who have intensified activities and are engaged in fierce fighting with the government forces in the northern Balkh, Kunduz, Baghlan and the western Farah province over the past 10 days, have not commented on the report.