Afghan troops during an operation against Taliban fighters in Wardak province 40 km west of capital city kabul killed five militants and arrested nine others including a commander, an official said Thursday.

"Units of army and police stormed Taliban hideouts in Syedabad district late Wednesday night and during the operation which lasted for couple of hours five rebels were killed and nine others including their commander Mullah Habibullah were captured," spokesman for provincial governor Shahidullah Shahid told Xinhua.

Meantime, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in talks with media via telephone from unknown location rejected the claim, saying no Taliban commander or fighter has been detained in Wardak province over the past one week.

Taliban militants have vowed to speed up activities this year in the post-Taliban Afghanistan.