Afghanistan's defense ministry says its forces have killed more than 40 fighters it described as insurgents who crossed into the country from neighbouring Pakistan, and captured dozens more over three days amid repeated clashes along the tense border.

The insurgents included members of the Islamic State group, the ministry said in a statement issued late Tuesday night. It said it had killed 41 and captured another 62 in the Kamdesh district of the northeastern province of Nuristan from Sunday to Tuesday.