Afghan forces have killed 60 Taliban militants including the group's shadow governor for northwest Badghis province, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday.

The insurgents were killed in ground and air raids in neighboring provinces of Faryab and Ghor, the ministry said in a statement.
The statement identified the shadow governor as Mohammad Ayoub, also known as Lala. His deputy, Sheikh Karim, and nine other senior militants were also killed in the operations, it said.
The statement said that the group was behind an attack on a military base in Ghormach district of Faryab province that killed 17 soldiers two weeks ago.
Separately, 52 Taliban militants were killed in air raids and fighting with Afghan forces in Faryab’s Qaisar district, an official said Tuesday.
Mohammad Javed Saleem, a spokesman for army’s special forces, told 1TV that the clash began last night. He said 32 of the insurgents were killed in air raids while 20 were killed in clash.
The fighting also left two special forces dead and another injured, he said.