At least 18 militants were killed in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, the former stronghold of the Taliban militant group, the Defence Ministry said in a statement here Sunday. In the operations which covered parts of Dand, Jelai and Maroud districts since Saturday, 18 armed insurgents have been killed and a total of anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines have been discovered and defused, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying. Taliban militants who are active in parts of Kandahar province are yet to make a comment. (IANS)