KABUL, July 23 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan government security forces killed 31 Taliban militants and wounded 15 others in eastern Nangarhar province on Wednesday, the country's Defense Ministry said Thursday.

"The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) were aware of an imminent attack on checkpoints in Qelgho area of Khogyani district late Wednesday. The ANDSF launched a responsive attack, leaving the casualties among the Taliban," the ministry said in a statement.

Ten various types of vehicles were also destroyed during the fighting and five Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were defused after the clashes, the statement said.

The mountainous province has been the scene of heavy clashes for many years.

In the meantime, Attahulla Khogiani, provincial government spokesman, told Xinhua that 13 of the killed Taliban members were foreign militants.

"Thirteen non-Afghan nationals were among the killed. A peace pact signed between the United States and the Taliban in Doha in February required the Taliban militants to reduce violence and cut ties with foreign militants and militants of al-Qaida international terrorist group," Khogiani said.

"But Taliban did not sever ties with the international terrorists, and the foreign militants still support Taliban in the fight against the government and the people of Afghanistan," he said.

Since the signing of the peace deal between the Taliban and the United States, Afghan leaders, including President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, have frequently demanded the Taliban to reduce violence.

The militants, however, have intensified attacks, killing and injuring scores of combatants and civilians. Enditem

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