Al-Qaida-linked Taliban leader killed in Kunar air strike: ISAF

September 30, 2012 | World News | Written by

Kabul, Sept. 30 (Xinhua-ANI): An al-Qaida-linked Taliban leader along with two other insurgents were killed in an air strike carried out by the NATO-led coalition forces in eastern Kunar province on Friday, the coalition forces confirmed on Sunday.

“Today, Afghan and coalition forces confirmed the death of Asad, an al-Qaida associated Taliban leader, following an operation in Darah-ye Pech district, Kunar province, Friday,” the NATO-led coalition or International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.

Asad was a Marawara-based Taliban leader also affiliated with the Tehrik-Nefaz-i-Shariat-Muhammadi, a Pakistani militant group and known supporter of the Afghan Taliban. Asad engaged in numerous attacks against Afghan and coalition forces and was believed to be planning additional strikes in the days leading up to his death, it added.

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

In an unrelated incident, two civilians, including a teacher, were killed in a remote-control bomb attack in Sirkanay district in Kanar province, 185 km east of Kabul on Saturday evening, provincial police spokesman, Shir Wali, told Xinhua on Sunday.

Separately, up to four Taliban militants have been killed in an on-going operation in northeastern Badakhshan province, the police said.

“The operation was launched to clear several areas in Wardoj district and up to now four Taliban have been killed and six others injured,” a senior police official, Sakhidad Hidari told Xinhua, adding a policeman was also killed in the operation in the province 315 km northeast of Kabul.

Taliban militants fighting Afghan and about 100,000 NATO-led ISAF forces have yet to make comments. (Xinhua-ANI)