TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- At least eight Taliban militants were killed during an ongoing operation in Takhar province, northern Afghanistan, on Saturday night, an army source said Sunday.

Ghulam Hazrat Karimi, an army spokesman in the region, told Xinhua that the National Security and Defense Forces launched recently a ground operation supported by Afghan air force against militants in Baharak district, Takhar province.

The militants engaged the government forces on Saturday night. As a result, eight militants were killed and three others injured, he said.

Among those killed was a Taliban divisional commander Qari Mohammad Alam, the source added.

No security force member was hurt during the operation, he said.

The Takhar province, as well as neighboring Kunduz and Baghlan provinces, has been the scene of heavy clashes over the past couple of months as Taliban has been trying to challenge the government forces in the once relatively peaceful region.

Taliban militants have yet to make comment on the report.