QALA-E-NAW, Afghanistan, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- About nine Taliban militants were killed after Afghan security forces repelled an attack by the Taliban militants on a key district in the country's western province of Badghis overnight, police said Thursday.

The attack occurred late Wednesday night when dozens of Taliban militants stormed Ab Kamari district with guns and rocket launchers but security forces pushed back the attackers, killing nine militants, the provincial police department said in a statement.

The attackers tried to overrun the district.

A Taliban shadow governor for Ab Kamari was among the killed and no security force member was hurt following the clash in the district, west of provincial capital Qala-e-Naw, the statement added.

The remote province has been the scene of heavy fightings and clashes since early this year.

The violence has been on the rise as Afghan security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by militants at the time when the country is preparing for parliamentary and district council elections slated for later this month.

During the Oct. 20 elections, nearly 9 million registered voters, including 3 million women, will cast their ballots to elect members of the 249-seat lower house of parliament for a five-year term while they will also vote to elect members of the district councils.