KABUL, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan security forces have pressed on to clear the militants in restive provinces and killed 71 militants in the latest operations, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday.

"The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces carried out cleanup operations in several provinces within the past 24 hours, killing 71 armed militants, wounding 35 and detaining seven others," the ministry said in a statement.

The security forces also found and seized weapons, the statement said, without adding if there were any casualties on the side of security forces.

They also defused several roadside bombs and landmines during the above raids conducted in 17 of the country's 34 provinces, according to the statement.

The Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations against militants recently, as spring and summer, known as fighting season, are drawing near in the Central Asian country.