TALUQAN, Afghanistan, June 20 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 militants have been killed and several villages recaptured in Eshkamish district of the northern Takhar province over the past 24 hours, said a statement of provincial government released here Thursday.

During the operations, launched Wednesday, besides killing 13 militants, more than a dozen insurgents have been injured and the Taliban militants have fled, enabling the security forces to re-establish the law and order there in several villages, the statement added.

The operations would last until the restive district is cleansed of the militants, the statement went on to say.

Taliban militants who have intensify operations since launching their so-called annual spring offensive on April 12 are yet to make comment on the situation.