KABUL, July 12 (Xinhua) -- Four police personnel and at least 88 militants have been killed in clashes in two Afghan provinces, authorities said Thursday.

In eastern Paktia province, 51 Taliban militants were killed and several others wounded during a clash and ensuing airstrike in Band-e-Michalgho area of Ahmad Abad district at wee hours of Thursday, provincial police spokesman, Sardar Wali Tabasam told Xinhua.

The clashes occurred after dozens of militants stormed security checkpoints in the area and four policemen were also killed and six others wounded during the clashes.

In northern Jawzjan province, 28 Islamic State (IS) militants and nine militants of Taliban group were killed and 16 IS militants and 11 Taliban wounded after the two groups of militants clashed in Darzab district on Wednesday, the Afghan Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The two rival armed groups often fight over expanding territory in parts of the conflict-hit Afghanistan.