In Afghanistan, security forces backed by NATO troops killed more than three dozen militants in a series of military operations across the country. Twenty-three Taliban-linked militants were killed in an operation by Afghan and Western troops in the eastern province of Paktika late yesterday. A provincial spokesman said in a statement that NATO warplanes attacked militant positions in support of ground forces in Barmal district of province on the Pakistani border. The defence ministry said in a statement that around 16 other militants were killed in separate operations in several provinces mainly in the south. It said that dozens of militants were captured during those<br/>operations during last two days. Security has been tightened in capital Kabul in view of swearing in ceremony of President Hamid Karzai for his second term tomorrow.<br/><br/>