Three Taliban militants were killed and 15 others detained in a series of overnight operations launched by Afghan and NATO-led troops in the militancy-hit Afghanistan, Zahir Azimi, spokesman of Afghan Defense Ministry, said Wednesday.

"Army commandos and NATO-led U.S. Special Operations Force teams conducted five separate raids in Ghazni and Helmand provinces in south Afghanistan, Nangarhar and Khost in east and Logar province, as a result three enemies were killed and 15 others were detained," Azimi told a joint press conference with Brigadier-General Chris Whitecross Deputy Chief of Communication of NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

Without giving any name, he said many important figures of the militants were among the detainees.

He said that the special joint operations have had a great effect on the militants, adding a dozen of heavy and light weapons were also found in their possession.

Taliban militants have yet to make comments.

"The Afghan and coalition forces' ultimate goal is to create a secure and safe environment that allows effective governance and economic development. This is, of course, a challenge, but a challenge that is being faced everywhere by the Afghan and our coalition partners across Afghanistan," Whitecross said told journalists at the press conference.

The outfit's militias have vowed to speed up their attacks this year in the war-torn central Asian state, while according to Azimi, the joint forces have also intensified their operations across the country ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election set for Sept. 18 to ensure security throughout the country.