Kabul, May 19 (IANS): At least 113 militants were killed and 50 injured when Afghan security forces pressed ahead with offensives in restive provinces, the Defence Ministry said on Friday.

"Afghan National Defence and Security Forces carried out cleanup operations in different provinces within the past 24 hours," Xinhua news agency quoted a ministry statement as saying.

The forces also seized weapons and defused several roadside bombs planted by militants during the raids launched in 17 of the country's 34 provinces, the statement said.

Violence has been on the rise as Afghan security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by the Taliban since the drawdown of foreign forces over the past two years.

On Thursday night, five police personnel were killed in an insider attack in Ghanikhel district in Nangarhar province of the country.

Following the assault, the attackers fled from the scene and took away the APL troops' weapons.