KUNDUZ, Afghanistan, Aug. 18 -- At least 10 Taliban militants, including two local commanders, have been killed since Sunday night in Kunduz province with Kunduz city as its capital 250 km north of Kabul, police spokesman in the province Sayed Sarwar Hussaini said Monday.

"Security forces launched cleanup operations in Gultapa area outside provincial capital Kunduz city and Gumbaz area in Imam Sahib district yesterday night and so 10 rebels have been killed," Hussaini told Xinhua.

Mawlawi Usman and Qari Akhtar, the two local commanders of Taliban militants, are among those killed during the crackdown, he added.

Kunduz has been the scene of heavy clashes between Afghan security forces and Taliban militants over the past week during which hundreds of people have left their houses for safe places.