In Afghanistan, at least 11 militants and two policemen have been killed in separate incidents in the Northwest Badghis province. Provincial police chief Syed Ahmad Sami claimed a joint operation of Afghan and NATO-led troops in Balamirghab district on Sunday which left eight militants dead but some locals said three of those killed were civilians. He said militants raided a police check point in the neighboring Qadis district killing two police constables. The police official said three militants were also killed when police returned fire. Taliban-led violence is at its peak with maximum casualties among western forces this year since overthrow of Taliban rule in 2001.