In Afghanistan, at least 45 militants have been killed in two separate operations by NATO and Afghan forces since Wednesday night. At least 31 Taliban militants were killed in northern Kunduz province when the joint forces were pursuing a senior Taliban commander. Police spokesman in northern region Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai said today that several foreign militants were also among those killed during the operation which lasted for several hours. In another incident, 14 militants were killed when they clashed with security forces in Qarabagh district of southern Ghazni province. Provincial police chief Khayalbaz Shirzai said that eight more militants were injured during the firefight. Separately, Afghan and NATO-led troops arrested 40 militants during operation against Taliban militants in the southern Helmand province on Wednesday night. <br/>Meanwhile, three NATO service members and three Afghan policemen were killed in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday while Taliban claimed responsibility for assassinating a senior prison official. NATO soldiers were killed in separate incidents of roadside bomb explosions and militant’s fire.<br/>