According to officials, Afghan forces backed by foreign troops attacked a group of Taliban fighters in the restive Bala Murghab district of Badghis province late Monday. Over 40 insurgents were killed while 4 members of the Afghan National Army suffered injuries in the attack.

The report added that three local Taliban leaders, known as the heads of Taliban Council in Bala Murghab, were among the dead. A number of Taliban militants have also been wounded.

Meanwhile, a large number of civilians have fled with their relatives to neighboring regions in order to escape the fighting and possible death.

Bala Murghab has recently been turned into one of the main Taliban strongholds in relatively secure western Afghanistan.