Kabul, Oct 17 At least 20 Taliban militants were killed in air strikes on the militants' hideout in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province, authorities said Saturday.

"The international troops' warplanes targeted the suspected hideout of the militants in Urgon district Friday evening, killing over 20 rebels at the spot," administration spokesperson Hamidullah Zuwak told Xinhua.

In a separate incident, seven armed militants were arrested as Afghan National Security Forces backed by international troops launched an operation against militants in the same district earlier in the day, he added. (IANS)