KABUL, May 10 (Xinhua) -- As many as 26 militants loyal to the Taliban outfit were killed following a series of operations in the country's southern Ghor and eastern Laghman provinces over the past 24 hours, officials said Thursday.

Up to 14 insurgents have been killed and six others wounded in Shahrak district of Ghor province since Wednesday and several villages have been liberated from militants' clutches, Mohammad Iqbal, the provincial police spokesman told Xinhua.

One local policeman lost his life during the operations, he added.

Similarly in Alingar district of the eastern Laghman province over the past 24 hours, 12 militants have been killed and another arrested during operations launched by the National Directorate for Security (NDS), said Sarhadi Zowak, the spokesman of the provincial governor.

Afghan militancy and counter-militancy have increased since Taliban launched its annual spring offensive on April 25 in the country.