Afghan officials say five insurgents who were planning a mass attack in Kabul were killed in a gun battle that lasted for seven hours.
Lutfullah Mashal, spokesman for the National Directorate of Security, said the militants were killed in an initial raid by Afghan troops.
Mashal said the militants were armed with suicide vests, rockets, and machine guns.
He said they planned to seize a tall building in Kabul's central Shar-e Naw district.
Security forces raided the house after intelligence officials informed them about the planned suicide attack.
A minivan full of explosives was discovered at the house.
The Taliban issued a statement denying that the operation was against their fighters.
Afghan officials have linked the insurgents to the Haqqani network.
Lutfullah Mashal, spokesman for the National Directorate of Security, said the militants were killed in an initial raid by Afghan troops.
Mashal said the militants were armed with suicide vests, rockets, and machine guns.
He said they planned to seize a tall building in Kabul's central Shar-e Naw district.
Security forces raided the house after intelligence officials informed them about the planned suicide attack.
A minivan full of explosives was discovered at the house.
The Taliban issued a statement denying that the operation was against their fighters.
Afghan officials have linked the insurgents to the Haqqani network.