Kabul, Dec 24 (IANS): The Afghan army specialists have recovered and defused 65 bombs in the country's Kandahar province, the defence ministry said Monday.

"Up to 65 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and roadside bombs were found and defused by army personnel in Panjwai district of Kandahar province," Xinhua reported citing the ministry in a statement.

Several armed Taliban militants were killed and wounded in an army operation in Kandahar's Maiwand district, the statement said, without revealing the exact number of casualties on the militants.

In addition, the army also killed and wounded several militants during a cleanup operation in eastern Ghazni province, according to the statement.

Two army personnel were killed in two separate IED blasts in southern Zabul and neighbouring Helmand province, the statement added.

The war-torn country is due to take over the responsibility for its own security from foreign troops by the end of 2014.