FAIZABAD, Afghanistan, April 13 (Xinhua) -- At least five militants, including a senior commander of the Taliban group have been killed and three others wounded, following a fierce clash with government forces in Afghanistan's restive Badakhshan province on Saturday, an army spokesman said.

The clash took place at about 9 a.m. local time Saturday, after a group of militants loyal to the Taliban attacked government forces' checkpoints in Zebak district of the province, triggering gun battle.

So far five fighters including their commander Qari Besmillah have been killed and three others wounded, army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said.

Cleanup operation has been going on, the official asserted.

The Taliban fighters on Friday just announced the armed outfit's annual operations dubbed "al-Fath", meaning "victory" in Arabic. They have since intensified activities.