KABUL, May 15 (Xinhua) -- At least five security forces and nearly 40 Taliban militants have been killed in clashes in Afghanistan within the past 24 hours, authorities said Wednesday.

Three Afghan army soldiers, two police officers and four militants were killed after Afghan security forces repelled an attack by Taliban on remote Shamulzay district in southern province of Zabul Tuesday night, Afghan Ministry of Defense said confirmed.

The ministry added that heavy clashes with the security forces foiled the enemy's plan to capture the remote district, in southeast of provincial capital Qalat city.

At least 17 militants were also wounded in the fighting in the district, bordering Pakistan.

Zabiullah Mujahid, a purported Taliban spokesman, claimed that the insurgents overran the government offices in the district.

In a separate incident, four Taliban militants were killed after Afghan Air Force targeted a running vehicle in Naw Bahar district of Zabul on Tuesday.

In another incident, four Taliban militants were killed and eight others wounded after Afghan army commandoes launched an operation in Khelahzai village, on outskirts of Pul-e-Khumri, capital of northern Baghlan province Tuesday night, army Corps 217 Pamir said in a statement.

The security force also destroyed two Taliban control and command posts and four defensive positions in the area which threaten Pul-e-Khumri city, according to the statement.

In addition, a Taliban divisional commander named Abubakar was killed after an improvised explosive device that he was making detonated accidently in Khelahzai on Tuesday, provincial police spokesman Jawid Basharat told Xinhua.

In eastern Ghazni province, 20 militants were killed following a string of airstrikes and army shelling attack against Taliban positions in Arizo and Shahleez localities on outskirts of provincial capital, Ghazni city, provincial government spokesman Harif Noori told Xinhua.

Three motorcycles, a heavy gun and a heavy machinegun were also destroyed after the raids, he said.

In neighboring Nangarhar province, five Taliban militants were killed and four militants were arrested after Afghan Special Forces launched a night raid operation in Khogyani district, provincial official Attaullah Khogyani told Xinhua.

Two Taliban's hideouts and two defensive positions were destroyed after the raid, he added.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different places of the country, which had claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians.

The Taliban has urged civilians to stay away from official gatherings, military convoys and centers regarded as the targets by militants besides warning people not to support the government.

Warring sides in Afghanistan typically exaggerate the casualties of opponent side and it is difficult to verify the figures by them with independent sources.