LASHKAR GAH, Afghanistan, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- A total of seven Taliban militants including a key commander have been killed as government forces targeted Taliban hideouts in Afghanistan's southern Helmand province, provincial police department said here Tuesday.

A number of arms, ammunitions, two motorbikes and a mine making factory of militants have also been destroyed, the department said in a statement asserted.

Without providing more details, the statement added that the security forces would continue to pursue the militants elsewhere in the province.

Taliban militants who are active in parts of the poppy growing and restive Helmand province have not commented.