News - Afghanistan

At least 50 militants were killed in a Nato operation in south-eastern Afghanistan, Isaf said in a statement on Friday.

The insurgents were killed in their encampment in Sar Rowzah district of the south-eastern province of Paktika overnight, Isaf said in the statement.

Isaf said that the encampment site was a staging area for Haqqani and foreign fighters moving into the country to carry out attacks.

The coalition forces said that they acted after being tipped off about the encampment. Afghan Special Forces also took part in the action against the insurgents overnight from Thursday to Friday.

The operation was launched as foreign forces have started handing over security responsibility to Afghan forces.

Afghan security forces have taken security responsibility of Herat city on Thursday as planned.

After Herat city, foreign forces will hand over security responsibility of Kabul, Panjshir and Mazar-e-Sharif city to Afghan forces as part of the first phase of security transition.

Afghan forces have also taken over security responsibility in the relatively peaceful province of Bamyan province and Mehtarlam, capital of Laghman province and Lashkargah, the capital of Helmand province.