Nine Afghan soldiers and 41 militants killed in military operations in past 24 hours, Afghan officials announced on Monday morning.

Four Afghan policemen were killed and two others wounded after Taliban attacked a number of security check posts in Khushamand District of Paktika province late on Sunday.

Nabiullah Peerkhil, spokesman for the police headquarters of Paktika province confirms the report.

Also, a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense states that five Army soldiers embraced martyrdom in IED explosions and militant fire while on duty.

The statement did not specify the exact location of the incident.

In the meantime, a statement issued by the Afghan Ministry of Interior stated that 41 insurgents were killed and 16 others wounded during military operations in Takhar, Kunduz, Faryab, Sar-e-Pul, Baghlan, Paktiya Kandahar, Oruzgan, Helmand and Zabul province.

Security forces also defused 10 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) placed by the militants, the statement added.