Kabul, Feb 27 (IANS): Two Afghan army soldiers were killed in roadside bombings, said the country's defence ministry Thursday.

"Two Afghan National Army personnel were martyred in two improvised explosive device (IED) attacks in Panjwai district of Kandahar and Gereshk district of neighbouring Helmand province," Xinhua quoted the ministry as saying in a statement.

The Taliban insurgent group fighting the government has largely been using home-made IEDs to launch suicide attacks and roadside bombings against security forces.

The southern Kandahar and Helmand provinces are notorious for growing poppy and militancy.

The casualties of the security forces have risen in recent months as the US and NATO troops in Afghanistan switched from combat to support role, namely training, advising and assisting Afghan forces.

More than 52,000-strong NATO-led foreign troops, down from the peak of 130,000 in 2010, are currently being deployed in the country.