At least 13 rebels, including a commander, were killed in a drone strike in Mach Megi area of Lalpur district in eastern Nangarhar province, provincial police spokesman said Sunday.
Maj Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal said the dead insurgents were involved in anti-state activities and staged attacks on government installations in the area.
However, Taliban have not yet commented on the attack. Meanwhile, two policemen were wounded when a police vehicle struck a roadside mine, Mashriqiwal added.
Separately, over a dozen suspects were apprehended in a search operation in Bati Kot and Khogyani districts and were being investigated, he added.
Ziaur Rahman, a resident and farmer of the area, said farmers could not go to reap their ready crops since it was a harvesting season due to ongoing fighting between security forces and militants.
