QALA-E-NAW, Afghanistan, Nov. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least three Afghan army soldiers and 10 Taliban militants have been killed following clashes in the western province of Badghis, local police said Thursday.

"The clashes occurred after hundreds of militants ambushed an army convoy travelling in Bazar-e-Laman, an area on the outskirts of provincial capital Qala-e-Naw late on Wednesday. The clashes also injured nine soldiers and 13 militants," provincial police spokesman Naqibullah Amini told Xinhua.

The soldiers fought back at the attackers and six military vehicles were burned following the clashes in the province, 555 km northwest of Kabul, he said.

The mountainous province has been the scene of heavy clashes since early this year.

The Afghan security forces have beefed up security operations against militants recently as the Taliban has been attempting to take territory and consolidate its positions ahead of winter in the war-plagued country.