1st LD Writethru: Taliban shadow district governor among 17 killed in N. Afghan province

MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- A total of 17 militants including a shadow district governor Mawlawi Abdul Khaleq were killed after security forces stormed their hideout in Shortepa district of Afghanistan's northern Balkh province on Friday, a police spokesman in the northern region, Sayed Sarwar Hussaini said.

"Acting on a tipoff the security forces stormed a hideout of Taliban insurgents in Islam village of Shortepa district early today morning killing 17 rebels including a shadow district governor Mawlawi Abdul Khaleq on the spot," Hussaini told Xinhua.

Mawlawi Abdul Khaleq, according to the official, had served as shadow district governor of Taliban in Qarqin district of the neighboring Jawzjan province and obviously visited Shortepa district to regroup Taliban fighters in Balkh province.

Taliban militants have not commented on the report. Enditem