Kabul, Mar. 13: Afghan and international forces have killed at least 41 Taliban militants in a battle in southern Afghanistan.

The Governor of Afghanistan's Nimroz Province, Ghulam Dastagir Azad, was quoted by a foreign news agency as saying that the insurgents were traveling through neighboring Helmand province on Wednesday when the joint forces attacked them.

Azad says the troops employed air strikes during the four-hour battle in Helmand province and killed a total of 41 militants. He says 17 of the dead were from Nimroz, including a commander. (ANI)