Afghan security forces, backed by NATO-led Coalition troops, have killed 27 insurgents and captured six others over the past 24 hours, the Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

"The Afghan National Police (ANP), Afghan National Army and Coalition Forces launched six joint operations in surrounding areas of Kabul, Kunar, Nangarhar, Kapisa, Kunduz and Kandahar provinces over the past 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement.

"As a result of these operations, 27 armed insurgents were killed and six others were arrested by the ANP," it said, adding the ANP also discovered and confiscated a handful of weapons and ammunitions during the above operations.

Afghan officials often use the word "insurgents" referring to the Taliban.

Taliban insurgents, whose regime was toppled in a U.S.-led incursion in late 2001, have intensified activities since the militant group launched a spring offensive against Afghan and NATO- led troops stationed in Afghanistan on May 1, have yet to make comments.

Afghan and NATO-led coalition forces keep up pressure on insurgents all over the country as over 400 insurgents had been killed and around 580 detained by joint forces since the beginning of October, according to the Afghan interior ministry.