Five Taliban leaders killed in eastern Afghanistan

KABUL: Afghan forces killed five local commanders of the Taliban group in eastern Laghman province, the defence ministry said in a statement on Monday.

According to the statement, Maulavi Lal Mohammad, Maulavi Fazilullah, Abdul Ahmad, Maulaui Nasir and Abdullah who had served as judge and senior leaders in eastern Laghman province were killed and another local commander Maulavi Sayed Rahim was wounded during series of airstrikes launched late Sunday in Badpakh district.

Similarly, the security forces elsewhere in Maiwand district of southern Kandahar province arrested eight militants loyal to the Taliban outfit over the past couple of days, said a statement from the provincial governor's office on Monday.