PUL-E-KHUMRI, Afghanistan, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Two militants affiliated with the Taliban outfit were killed after their explosive device went off prematurely in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province on Wednesday, an army spokesman in the northern region Mohammad Hanif Rezai said.

Both the militants, according to the official, were taking a mine to plant on a road in Baghlan-e-Markzai district, some 40 km outside Baghlan provincial capital Pul-e-Khumri early Wednesday to target security personnel.

But the device exploded accidentally, killing both on the spot.

Sporadic fighting has been continuing between security forces and Taliban militants in Baghlan-Markzai and adjoining Dand-e-Ghori and Dand-e-Shahabudin districts over the past couple of months.