Taliban leader killed in Afghan province of Kandahar: coalition

KABUL, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) -- A local Taliban leader was killed in an operation in Zhari district in southern Afghan province of Kandahar on Thursday, the NATO-led coalition forces confirmed on Saturday.

"Mullah Abdul Ghafar Akhund was a Panjwayi-based Taliban leader. During the operation, the security force positively identified Abdul and other militants engaging in insurgent activity in an isolated area away from civilians.The security force conducted a precision airstrike, killing Abdul and two additional insurgents," the coalition said in a statement.

He is believed to have organized numerous Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attacks and coordinated the movement of weapons and ammunition for use against security forces in the province 450 km south of Kabul.

"A post-strike assessment determined no civilians were harmed and no property was damaged as a result of the operation." it said.

In addition, the joint forces arrested a Taliban senior leader in Gardez district in eastern Paktia province earlier Saturday, the statement said without naming the detained man.

"The arrested senior leader is suspected of maintaining working relationships with multiple Haqqani senior leaders. He is also believed to be responsible for planning and directing attacks on Afghan and coalition forces, smuggling weapons, and IEDs placement throughout both Pul-e-Alam and Baraki Barak, Logar province," it said.

The Taliban insurgents, who have been waging an insurgency of more than one decade, have yet to confirm the death of the insurgent commander. Enditem

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)