KABUL, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A local Taliban leader has been killed and another militant wounded following clashes with Afghan police personnel in the country's eastern province of Paktika, Afghan Interior Ministry said Tuesday.

"A local Taliban leader named Ihsan Ullah was killed and one militant wounded in an Afghan National Police ambush in Guldara, a locality on outskirts of provincial capital Sharan on Monday," the ministry said in a statement.

The dead Taliban leader was serving as leader of Taliban's Sara Keta or special force in the province, 155 km south of Kabul, the statement added.

No civilian or member of police unit was hurt during the fighting.

Violence has been on the rise as security forces struggle against a surge in attacks by militants at the time when the country is preparing for the parliamentary and district councils elections slated for later this month.

During the upcoming Oct. 20 elections, more than 54,000 Afghan army soldiers and police personnel would be deployed to provide security for 5,100 polling stations across the country.

The Taliban militant group has yet to respond to the report. Enditem