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1st Ld Writethru: Drone strike kills Taliban key commander, 4 others in Afghan northern Kunduz province

Xinhua, June 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

A Taliban key commander Mullah Gul Khan alias Khanjar (sword) along with four of his bodyguards were killed as an unmanned plane struck their hideout in Imam Sahib district of the northern Kunduz province on Tuesday, provincial police chief Mohammad Qasim Jangalbagh said.

"Acting upon intelligence report, the government forces conducted drone attack in Imam Sahib district at around noon and killed Mullah Gul Khan alias Khanjar (sword) along with four of his armed bodyguards," Jangalbagh told Xinhua.

Khanjar was involved in a series of terrorist activities including organizing roadside bombings and attacking security personnel in Kunduz province, the official said, asserting his killing could be a major blow to the Taliban militants in Kunduz and the neighboring Baghlan and Takhar provinces.

In a similar blow to the Taliban, the government forces captured Qari Zahir the Taliban spy chief and military operational commander in Baghlan province on Sunday. Endit