Afghan forces backed by the NATO-led troops killed eight Taliban militants in Laghman province 90 km east of Kabul on Tuesday, spokesman for provincial administration said.

"In the operation launched early morning in some villages outside provincial capital Mehterlam, and lasted for a few hours, eight Taliban rebels were killed and four others injured," Sarhadi Zawak told Xinhua.

There were no casualties on security forces, he said.

Meantime, Taliban purported spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid in talks with media via telephone from unknown location confirmed the fighting but added only one Taliban fighter was killed in the firefight.