KABUL, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Up to six militants, including a key Taliban commander, have been killed following an anti-terrorism operation in Afghanistan's northern province of Balkh, the Afghan Ministry of Interior Affairs said Thursday.

"Afghan National Defense and Security Forces launched the anti-terrorism raid in surrounding areas of Balkh district, Balkh province. The security forces received hostile fire and returned fire, killing six Taliban terrorists," the ministry said in a statement.

Among those killed was Mullah shader, a most-wanted Taliban commander in Balkh, the statement said, without mentioning the exact time of the operation.

"A Taliban outfit member named Mohammad Sarwar was arrested and eight villages were cleared of the militants during the raid," the statement added.

The targeted terrorist group was involved in organizing and conducting several terrorist attacks in Balkh.

The relatively peaceful province has been the scene of clashes between security forces and Taliban militants since early this year.

The security force also destroyed a militant's vehicle and three motorcycles, according to the statement.

The Taliban militant group has not made a comment on the report yet.