Afghan airstrikes kill 37 militants

Kabul, Sep 2 At least 37 militants were killed in airstrikes that targeted Taliban gatherings in Afghanistan's Faryab province on Wednesday, an army spokesman said.

"Acting on a tip-off, the fighter planes struck the gatherings in the restive Qaysar and Khawja Sabzposh districts early Wednesday morning, killing 37 including notorious commanders Mullah Sadiq, Mullah Basir and Faizullah on the spot," the spokesman told Xinhua.

More than a dozen others sustained injuries in the air raids, he added.

Describing the strikes as "pre-emptive action", the spokesman contended that the Taliban fighters had gathered for chalking out plans to stormed security checkpoints in the districts.

Taliban militants who are operational in parts of Faryab province with Maimana as its capital 425 km northwest of Kabul, are yet to comment.

( With inputs from IANS )