TALUQAN, Afghanistan, May 28 (Xinhua) -- Afghan forces killed six militants loyal to the Taliban outfit and injured two others following a fierce clash in the country's northern province of Takhar, local police said Monday.

The conflict happened early Monday morning, when the government forces launched an offensive on insurgents' hideouts in Yangi Qala district of the province, resulting in the death of six armed militants and injury of two others, Abdul Khalil Asir, spokesman of provincial police department, told Xinhua.

He also confirmed that two security personnel have been injured in the incident, with the Taliban yet to comment on the report.

Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to the once peaceful region in the north, where Taliban have been recruiting from among the youth.