TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Three Afghan border forces and five Taliban militants have been killed in clashes in northern Takhar province overnight, provincial police spokesman said Sunday.

"Armed militants attacked a border force camp in Chah Ab district Saturday night. The security forces responded and fought back the attackers and the clashes left three soldiers and five militants dead," spokesman Abdul Khailil Asir told Xinhua.

Three border forces and five militants were also wounded during the clashes in the district, in the northern part of provincial capital Taluqan city, the police official added.

In a separate incident, a Taliban local leader named Khan Mohammad and one of his subordinates were arrested late Saturday night after Afghan army Special Forces launched an operation in Ishkamish district, south of Taluqan, Abdul Hadi Jamal, spokesman of army Corps 217 Pamir based in the region, told Xinhua.

The detainees were found to be involved in terror crimes in the past.

Violence has escalated in the relatively peaceful northern region over a past few years as Afghan security forces pushed against the militants in the southern and eastern regions.