TIRIN KOT, Afghanistan, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- A total of 15 Taliban fighters including a group commander were killed as their explosive device went off prematurely in the southern Uruzgan province on Sunday, said an army statement released here.

"A Taliban local commander, Mullah Musafir, along with his fighters were going to plant mine on a road in Khas Uruzgan district of the province early this morning, but the device exploded accidentally killing 15 insurgents including Mullah Musafir on the spot," the statement asserted.

The security personnel have also discovered and defused 18 mines from the area, the statement further said.

Taliban outfit has yet to make comments on the report.

The southern Uruzgan province with Tirin Kot as its capital 370 km southwest of Kabul has been the scene of Taliban-led insurgency over the past several months.