KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Up to 62 militants have been killed during airstrikes by Afghan air force in south Afghanistan's Kandahar province over the past 24 hours, said Yahya Alavi, an army spokesman in the southern region on Tuesday.

"The army aircrafts targeted the hideouts of Taliban militants in Maroof district of southern Kandahar province several times over the past 24 hours, as a result 62 militants including a local commander of the insurgent group have been killed and three others injured," Yahya Alavi told Xinhua.

Similarly, in a separate incident, nine policemen were killed and seven others injured during a clash with the Taliban militants in the neighboring Arghistan district of Kandahar province, on Monday night, Dawood Ahmady, spokesman for provincial governor told Xinhua.

Taliban militants have yet to make comments.