A Taliban local leader was killed along with seven of his comrades in a night raid operation in Afghanistan's eastern province of Ghazni overnight, the provincial police spokesman said on Thursday.

"Based on a confirmed tip-off, a unit of Afghan Special Operation force conducted an operation against a Taliban hideout in Gilan district Wednesday night. Upon arrival of the force the militants physically attacked the squad with small arms. The security force returned fire, killing eight militants," spokesman Fahim Amiri told Xinhua.

A Taliban local leader named Mawlawi Hamidullah was among the killed, the spokesman said, adding several rounds of weapons and ammunition was also seized by the security forces.

Hamidullah was involved in several subversive activities in the province, some 125 km south of Afghan capital of Kabul, the police official added.

Afghan security forces have pressed on clearing the militants in restive provinces as Taliban militants have been attempting to take territory and consolidate their positions during the winter in the Central Asian country.

The Taliban militant group has yet to make comments.

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