Up to 21 militants loyal to the Islamic State (IS) were killed in Achin district of Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province over the past 24 hours, Interior Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

According to the statement, 13 more IS fighters were wounded and several hideouts of the armed outfit destroyed during the operations.

IS outfit has yet to make comments on the report.

Achin and the neighboring Kot district have been regarded as the hotbed of IS militants in the eastern part of Afghanistan.

Operations Government forces against IS have been continuing over the past several months in the mountainous districts along the border with Pakistan's tribal areas but the ultra-extremist militant group is still active in the area.

Source : XINHUA