KABUL - NATO-led ground troops backed by air power killed more than 20 Taliban-linked militants in a battle in central Afghanistan that erupted after a bomb wounded some soldiers, an official said Thursday. NATO's International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) confirmed Wednesday's fighting in Ghazni province's Andar area, about 150 kilometres southwest of Kabul, but could not give details. The fighting started after a roadside bomb hit an ISAF vehicle and slightly injured some soldiers, Captain Mark Windsor said. The spokesman could not say how many insurgents were killed when military forces hit back. Ghazni province spokesman Ismail Jahangir said reports from the district were that more than 20 rebels were killed. "The international forces had an operation against Taliban in Andar district yesterday. We have reports that more than 20 Taliban were killed," Jahangir told AFP.