Kabul, April 3 (IANS): At least 16 Taliban militants were killed in separate incidents in Afghanistan Thursday, authorities said.

"Eight Taliban militants were killed after a coalition forces' drone fired a missile on a militant hideout in Nari district of eastern Kunar province early Thursday," provincial police chief Habibullah Sayyedkhil told Xinhua.

The militants tried to launch an attack on security forces before being killed, he noted.

Four militants were killed when the roadside bombs they were planting in southern Helmand and neighbouring Zabul province went off prematurely.

In eastern Wardak province, four Taliban, including a Pakistani militant, were killed and two others were injured in engagements with security forces.

The Taliban insurgents fighting the government have vowed to disrupt the simultaneous presidential and provincial councils polls scheduled for April 5.

More than 12 million eligible voters, 35 percent of them women, are expected to cast their ballots on election day.