Afghan Taliban commander gunned down in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Unidentified assailants gunned down an Afghan Taliban commander here on Thursday.

“Haji Khona, Taliban commander in the Shinwari region of Nangarhar province of Afghanistan, was shot dead by unknown gunmen near the refugee camp in Shamshato area,” sources told the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP). The slain Taliban commander took part in fighting against the Islamic State (IS) fighters in the Spin Ghar, Achin and Deh Bala districts and was also wounded during a clash a few months ago.

He was one of the several candidates for the post of Taliban 'shadow' administrator for Spin Ghar district. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the incident. Several key Taliban commanders, including former Taliban minister Maulvi Abdul Raqeeb, were also killed in attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in the past.