Kabul - Five people, including three Taliban, a police officer and a civilian, were killed in a clash in southern Afghanistan, while Afghan security forces arrested 13 suspected Taliban in the eastern region, officials said on Friday.

A group of Taliban militants attacked a police checkpoint in Nad Ali district of the volatile Helmand province on Thursday night, Mohammad Hussain Andewal, the provincial police chief, said.

The firefight left three Taliban fighters, a policeman and a civilian dead, he said, adding the militants immediately retreated from the scene, leaving behind the dead body of one of their comrades.

Meanwhile, Afghan police and army forces arrested at least 13 suspected Taliban militants, including one of their local commanders, on Thursday in the eastern region, according to Mohammad Gul Mangal, spokesman for police forces in the eastern zone.

Akramuddin, a Taliban commander, and six of his fighters were arrested in a joint operation in an area close the provincial capital of Paktia, while six others were detained in Saberai district of Khost province, Mangal said.

Eastern and southern regions of the country, which have long borders with Pakistan - where Taliban-led militants allegedly have safe havens - has witnessed a surge in insurgent attacks since the beginning of spring.

More than 2,500 people - mostly insurgents, but including hundreds of civilians - have lost their lives in clashes and suicide attacks so far this year. (dpa)