Eleven Taliban militants were killed as NATO-led aircraft pounded their hideouts in Zabul province south of Afghanistan, spokesman for provincial administration Mohammad Jan Rasoul said Saturday.

"International troops dropped bombs on Taliban bastion in Shamonzai district Friday night killing 11 rebels," Rasoul told Xinhua.

There were no casualties on civilians during the air raid, he asserted.

Meantime, a Taliban purported spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi disputed the claim, saying all the victims were civilians.

However, Mohammad Jawad Wazir, governor of Shamozai district, rejected Taliban claim as mere propaganda, saying all those killed in the air strike were Taliban fighters.