MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Two Afghan army soldiers and 12 Taliban militants have been killed in clashes in northern province of Faryab overnight, authorities said Wednesday.

In one incident, eight militants and two Afghan National Army troops lost their lives after soldiers fought back on attackers on security checkpoints in Almar district in provincial capital Maimana, Abdul Hadi Jamal, a press officer of the army's Division 20 Pamir based in the region, told Xinhua.

Two soldiers and five militants were wounded and two shops caught fire in the district bazaar in the exchange of fire, he said.

In Gurziwan district, west of Maimana, four Taliban militants were killed and three others wounded in another clash Tuesday night, according to Jamal.

A local Taliban leader named Hamidullah who served as shadow district governor for Gurziwan were among the injured.

Fighting has escalated in Afghanistan as the Taliban insurgency spreads from its traditional strongholds in the south and east to once peaceful regions in the north, where Taliban have been recruiting from the youth.

The militant group has not made a comment on the report so far.