According to the local government officials, the operation was conducted in Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz province on Thursday, Khaama press reported.

The officials further added that the operation was conducted to clear the area from the militants' activities and ensure security for the election runoff.

Ghulam Mohammad Karimi, the Spokesman for the Afghan National Army, 209th Shaheen Corps, said the Taliban shadow governor Asadullah Paikar was among 5 killed during the operation.

Karimi further added that Paikar was recently appointed by Taliban as group’s shadow governor for Kunduz province.

Kunduz is among the relatively volatile provinces in Northern Afghanistan where anti-government armed militants including the Taliban rebels are active in a number of its districts and frequently carry out insurgency activities