Afghan officials say security forces have thwarted an attack on the capital, Kabul, after killing at least six insurgents in an early morning gunbattle.
The officials said Afghan forces raided a compound in eastern Kabul early Thursday where the insurgents gathered to prepare for an attack. A gunbattle broke out, lasting for several hours until the militants were killed.
The Afghan forces found a vehicle packed with explosives along with other weapons at the site.
The Taliban said there was no such raid involving its fighters.
Also Thursday, NATO said two of its coalition service members were killed by a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan. It did not release any further details about the attack or the identities of the soldiers.