KABUL, May 12 (Xinhua) -- More than 40 militants were killed following the latest string of airstrikes conducted by Afghan Air Force within the past 24 hours, the government said Sunday.

In the eastern province of Ghazni, 16 Taliban militants were killed and five others wounded in two separate airstrikes, Presidential Information Coordination Center (Tawhid Center) said in a statement.

"The strikes in Ghazni province, 125 km south of Afghanistan's capital Kabul, were conducted by Afghan Air Force in Jaghori district and Razbeg locality of Andar district," the statement said.

In the neighboring province of Logar, two Taliban militants lost their lives and one militants' vehicle was destroyed following a sortie in Kharwar district in the province, 60 km south of Kabul.

About 15 Taliban militants were killed following an air raid on outskirts of Kunduz city, capital of northern Kunduz province.

Five militants were also wounded in the incident in Kunduz, 250 km north of Kabul.

The Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) remained in control of most of Afghanistan's population centers and all of 34 provincial capitals, but Taliban insurgents controlled large portions of rural areas, staging coordinated large-scale attacks against Afghan cities and districts since the militant group launched a yearly rebel offensive in early April.

In southern Uruzgan province, seven Taliban militants were killed and a Taliban command and control center was destroyed by an airstrike on outskirts of provincial capital Tirin Kot city, according to the statement.

Two Taliban militants were killed and a motorcycle that the deceased militants were riding on was destroyed in neighboring Zabul province, 340 km south of Kabul.

The ANDSF and the NATO-led coalition troops have increased ground and air offensives against militants in the past few months as spring and summer known as the fighting season is drawing near in the country.

However, militants responded to bomb blasts and armed attacks against security forces' outposts and checkpoints. The country, especially Kabul, has witnessed waves of terror attacks by the Taliban insurgents and Islamic State (IS) outfit.ide ca

On Wednesday, nine people, including five police officers, were killed and 20 people wounded in a Taliban group attack and a deadly suicr bomb blast against a U.S.-funded aid agency in central Kabul.