MAZAR-I-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least eight Taliban militants were killed and a local Taliban commander was arrested following an Afghan Special Operations Forces operation in the country's northern province of Balkh, local police said Thursday.

"The raid was launched early Thursday morning in Noshira area of Chamtal district, leaving eight Taliban militants dead and a Taliban divisional commander named Mullah Akhtar arrested," Sayyed Sarwar Housaini, spokesman of 707 Pamir Police Zone based in the region, told Xinhua.

According to Housaini, no civilian or security force member has sustained life or property losses during the operation.

Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to the once peaceful region in the north, where Taliban have been recruiting from among the youth.

Taliban has yet to comment on the report.