Key Taliban commander killed in Afghan forces’ raid

MAIMANA, Afghanistan: A key Taliban commander and his deputy have been killed in the northern Afghan province of Faryab on Saturday, police said.

"Acting on tip-off the security forces organised ambush on the enemies in an area of Shirin Tagab district early this morning, killing Mawlawi Gulistan the head of Taliban's military commission and his deputy Mawlawi Mansoor on the spot," provincial police spokesman Abdul Karim Yurush told Xinhua. The spokesman said their physical elimination is a big achievement for the security forces that could demoralise the insurgents in Faryab and the neighbouring Jawzjan and Sari Pul provinces.

Taliban militants, who are active in parts of Faryab including Shirin Tagab district, are threatening the provincial capital Maimana if their activities go unchecked.

Meantime, Defence Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanesh said on Saturday that additional forces had been sent to thwart militants’ activities in Shirin Tagab and adjoining areas.