KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Up to 36 militants have been killed in Miwand district of the southern Kandahar province as government forces from ground and air targeted Taliban hideouts over the past 24 hours, an army spokesman in the southern region Mohammad Sadiq Eisa said Tuesday.

One more insurgent, according to the official, has been captured alive during the ongoing crackdown.

Taliban militants have yet commented.