Afghan security forces and the NATO- led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have defused 13 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in eastern Afghan provinces, the ISAF said on Thursday.

"Afghan and Coalition Forces found and safely cleared 13 improvised explosive devices and detained one suspected insurgent during operations in eastern Afghanistan throughout the past 24 hours," the ISAF`s Regional Command-East said in a press release.

The home-made bombs were neutralized in Khost, Ghazni, Paktika, Kunar and Wardak provinces, it said.

Taliban militants, who have been waging an insurgency for more than one decade, used IEDs to launch roadside bomb attack on security forces but the lethal weapon also inflicted casualties on civilians.

The security forces have recently intensified operations across the country as spring and summer known as the fighting season is drawing near.

Source: ANTARA