Afghan forces fought remnants of the Taliban in three towns in the south during a siege that killed at least 40 Taliban fighters and seven soldiers.
The fighting broke out in Nimakai, District Chief Fazaluddin Agha said. It quickly spread to the nearby hamlets of Populzai and Hassanzai.
"We were trying to find these Taliban and we got a tip that they were hiding in these villages," he said, adding that several of the Taliban had been conducting hit-and-run missions against Afghan troops in recent days.
Mr Agha said about 50 Afghan troops were originally sent to Nimakai, and reinforcements were brought in later to double that number.
He said it was not clear who was commanding the Taliban fighters, or if any important fugitives were among those killed.
AP