KABUL: Afghan forces have killed a top Al-Qaeda militant wanted by the United States, as the government on Sunday accused the Taliban of still keeping close ties with the Islamist militant group.

Abu Muhsin al-Masri, an Egyptian national believed to be the group's number two in the Indian sub-continent, was targeted in eastern Ghazni province, Afghanistan's intelligence agency said in a statement.

The National Directorate of Security did not provide further details about the operation or when it was carried out. Masri's killing was an indication of the relationship between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, Afghanistan's Interior Minister Masoud Andarabi claimed on Sunday without providing details.

"The killing of one of the key Al-Qaeda member, al-Masri by the National Directorate of Security demonstrates close ties of the Taliban with the terrorist groups that are operating against the Afghan government and its people," he tweeted.

"They still keep close relations with the terrorist groups and they are lying to different sides."