Logar [Afghanistan]: A Taliban commander on Sunday was killed in an airstrike conducted by Afghan forces in central Logar province of Afghanistan, the ministry of defence said in a statement.

The commander has been identified as Waisuddin who was involved in the killing of three judges, Tolo News reported. Waisuddin was involved in the killing of three judges three days ago when their vehicle was ambushed, the statement read.

Three Afghan judges and an administrative officer were killed in an ambush in the Mohammad Agha district of Logar province on November 6.

Gunmen ambushed the vehicle in the Baqi Abad area of Mohammad Agha district as the judges were returning home from weekly holiday, officials said.

The Taliban is yet to comment on the killing of its commander.

Earlier last week, at least five Taliban terrorists were killed by Afghan Police in an operation launched in Shena Qala village of Barak-e-Barak district in Afghanistan.

Five Taliban members were killed in an operation carried by special police forces in central Logar province on Monday, Tolo News reported.

The police officials also seized weapons during the operation in Barak-e-Barak. So far, the Taliban has not commented on the Afghan police operation.

Meanwhile, Afghan security forces found two Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in the Jaghatu district of Ghazni province and safely detonated them. 

According to the United Nations, more than 1,500 civilians were killed or injured in Afghanistan in July. Afghanistan is witnessing rising tension from July and the country is on high alert. The United Nations urged all sides to ensure compliance with obligations under international laws, reminding them of their responsibility to protect civilians.

BBC research earlier in 2018 showed Taliban insurgents control more territory in the country than at any time since 2014. It is estimated that about 15 million people, that is half the population is living in areas that are either controlled by the Taliban or where its fighters are openly present and regularly mount attacks. 

However, there have been intense efforts to persuade the Taliban to begin peace talks to end the fighting.