Fifteen Taliban militants including 13 foreign fighters were killed in Afghanistan's eastern Paktika province as explosive devices went off prematurely, a statement issued by Afghan Interior Ministry said Sunday.

"Fifteen militants including eight Arabs, five Pakistanis and two Afghans were busy in making mines inside a mosque in Yousuf Khil district of Paktika on Friday but suddenly the explosive device exploded inside the mosque killing all the 15 rebels," the statement added.

The hard liner militias have yet to make comments.

Taliban militants fighting Afghan and the NATO-led forces have adopted suicide and roadside bombings as new military tactic which often claim civilian lives.