The operation by British, US and Afghan troops on the outskirts of the southern town of Musa Qala was launched on Friday. The offensive was also supported by the airforce of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force.

Fighting intensified over the weekend and early this week, inflicting heavy casualties on the Taliban insurgents. According to the Afghan defence ministry, dozens of Taliban fighters were killed in the operation, including three commanders and three suspected al-Qaeda-linked foreign militants.

The defence ministry added that the Afghan forces had regained complete control of the town. Earlier this week, British Prime minister Gordon Brown paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan and praised the efforts by the Afghan and international forces to combat the insurgency.

Success in Musa Qala

"There is no doubt that succeeding in Musa Qala will make a huge difference both to how people see the weakness of the Taliban in the future and the ability of the government to build, not just militarily and politically, but with social and economic progress for the people of the area.," Brown said.

Musa Qala lies in Afghanistan’s southern Helmand province, which is the key opium-growing centre in the country. Militants stormed and captured the town ten months ago, after British forces pulled out of the region as part of a deal with local elders, who said they would handle security after months of intense fighting.

Now that the rebels have abandoned the town, the Afghan troops are hailing the success of one of its biggest operations since the fall of Taliban in 2001. It is likely to give a boost to the Afghan army, which comprises around 50,000 troops and is relatively young and inexperienced.

Fledgling army needs training

The Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said the army still needed training and equipment "so that Afghanistan can be ready in time to take on the responsibility of defending the country."

Meanwhile, in the southern city of Kandahar, a suicide car bomber has killed one civilian and two Afghan army soldiers.

Afghanistan has witnessed a series of regular attacks recently. The numbers of suicide attacks have also increased. This year alone, about 140 such attacks have been carried out in the country, mostly targeting soldiers. However, many civilians have been among the casualties.