In Afghanistan, army and NATO forces have killed more than 80 suspected Taliban militants in separate clashes and air strikes in southern and central Afghanistan. Interior Ministry said in a statement that a total of 63 suspected militants were killed in the Dishu district of the southern province of Helmand. It said the operation began on Friday and continued till today morning. The combined forces seized more than 16.5 tonnes of drugs from the militants, while 10 drug smugglers and armed insurgents, including foreign fighters were detained. The joint forces also freed 14 Afghans, who were jailed by Taliban militants on charges of working with the Western-backed Afghan government. In another incident, a local Taliban commander and his associates were killed by a NATO air strike in Helmand's Nad Ali district yesterday. Another 16 suspected militants, including a local Taliban commander, were killed in three separate air strikes in central province of Wardak. Violence is on the rise as both Taliban and US-led troops have intensified their attacks since the spring.