Up to two dozen Taliban militants have been killed and 25 others injured in Sangin district of the southern Helmand province in Afghanistan, according to a statement of 215 Miwand Corps released here Wednesday.

According to the statement, 19 Taliban fighters have been killed in the ground and airstrikes; while five more militants were killed in a mine blast over the past couple of days.

The statement also confirmed that an army soldier had been killed and two others sustained injuries in a clash for the control of Sangin district.

Meantime, Afghan government Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah visited the restive Helmand province on Tuesday to review the security situation there.

Taliban militants who have been fighting government forces in Helmand over the past several years and are in control of pasts of the province, haven't commented.

source: Xinhua