KABUL, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) — A total of 20 militants have been killed and one was arrested as part of Afghan security forces’ stepped up campaign against the insurgents, the country’ Interior Ministry said on Monday.

“The Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) conducted several anti-terrorism operations across the country over the last 24 hours, killing 20 militants and detaining one armed militant,” the ministry said in a statement.

The raids were launched in seven of country’s 34 provinces, according to the statement.

The ANSF also found and seized weapons, the statement said, without saying if there were any casualties on the side of security forces.

“The Ministry of Interior Affairs appreciates the Afghan National Security Forces’ operations to eliminate the terrorists’ sanctuaries and it is a good step toward improving the security and stability,” the statement noted.

Afghan security forces have pressed ahead with clearing the militants in restive provinces as Taliban militants have been trying to take territory and consolidate their positions ahead of winter in the mountainous Central Asian country.

The Taliban militant group has yet to make comment.