A joint Afghan and coalition team carried out an operation in Garmser district where credible intelligence indicated that "extremist forces may be hiding", the statement said.

During the operation, about 40 militants were killed and multiple weapon caches were found and destroyed, it added. About 13,000 coalition soldiers have been deployed in Afghanistan to fight militants.

Due to increasing violence in the country, over 4,600 people, mostly Taliban militants, have been killed in Afghanistan this year.