NATO troop, 5 militants killed in Afghanistan

KABUL: A foreign soldier and five militants have been killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan, reports said.

The NATO soldier was killed in a roadside bomb explosion in volatile southern Afghanistan on Tuesday, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

An ISAF statement neither disclosed the nationality of the deceased nor the exact location of the incident, pending communication to the victims' families.

Attacks with improvised explosive device (IED) have become a hallmark of Taliban strategy against NATO forces in the country, as it avoids direct confrontation with the troops and increases the casualties.

The dangerous situation for NATO troops continue in Afghanistan even after the turn of the year.

In all, 26 military casualties have been reported so far this year, and 20 among them are Americans.

Last year has been the deadliest for foreign forces since they began anti-Taliban operations in 2001, with death toll crossing 700.

Five militants, including a Taliban leader, and a civilian were killed in an overnight joint operation conducted by Afghan and foreign troops in the northern province of Takhar.

ISAF confirmed that several militants were detained during the operation, but did not comment on the civilian casualty.