Kabul, Oct 31 (Xinhua) Afghan troops backed by NATO forces launched an operation in the north-central Afghanistan Wednesday, capturing 17 Taliban insurgents and their commander, a statement of the Afghan defence ministry said here.

‘In the operation launched this (Wednesday) morning, 17 terrorists, including their commander Mullah Abdul Qayum, were captured and two militants were killed in the Badghis province,’ the statement said.

A large cache of arms and ammunition was also seized from the insurgents, the statement said.