At least 37 Taliban were killed and 28 more were wounded in Afghan forces operations supported by air support in Arghandab and Zherai districts in Kandahar province on Sunday, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said in a statement on Monday. 

The forces have seized 90 motorbikes during the operation and also destroyed “a large amount of weapons” belonged to the Taliban and also cleared “Tabeen” village in Arghandab, the ministry said.

The Taliban has not commented on the operation. 

On Sunday, local officials in Kandahar said that the Arghandab has been retaken from the Taliban following an operation by security forces.

Some parts of the district were under Taliban influence over the last few months, according to officials.

Mines have been planted along roads connected to the district, which will delay the return of displaced people to their homes.

The Arghandab district is close to the city of Kandahar.

“The Taliban have left here. Their bodies and vehicles have been left here,” said Nazar Ali, an army commander.

“Arghandab is a populous district. We used high precision to avoid harm to the people,” said Sarbuland, a commander of the special forces battalion in Kandahar. 

Civilians have also been harmed and some of them have been displaced following clashes between security forces and the Taliban, officials said. 

Arghandab residents said they are waiting to return to their homes.