MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- Up to 20 insurgents were killed and several others injured as the security forces military aircrafts targeted Taliban positions in Kohistan district of Afghanistan's northern Faryab province on Thursday night, an army spokesman in the northern region Ahmad Jawed Salim said Friday.

The fighting aircrafts, according to the official, conducted the sorties against Taliban militants in Kohistan district late Thursday night killing 20 armed insurgents on the spot and wounding several others.

Taliban militants who have gained ground recently in Faryab province and mounting pressure to destabilize provincial capital Maimana are yet to make comment on the situation in Kohistan district.

Afghan forces have increased ground and air operations against Taliban in parts of the restive Faryab province over the past couple of weeks.