US airstrike kills Taliban Kunduz chief
KABUL: U.S. airstrikes have killed a suspected “Taliban chief for Kunduz province” in northern Afghanistan, a day after the provincial capital Kunduz city was captured by the insurgent group, Afghan intelligence agency claimed Wednesday.
The Afghan National Directorate for Security (NDS) said in a statement that the Tuesday night airstrike targeted a group of suspected militants in the vicinity of an airport under Afghan government control in Kunduz city.
After fierce clashes with the Taliban on Monday, Afghan security forces had withdrawn to the outlying airport and was now said to be the only territory in the city under Kabul’s control.
The Afghan intelligence agency, which said the U.S. airstrike was coordinated with local Afghan forces, also claimed that Taliban`s shadow governor Mullah Salam, deputy shadow governor Zabih and 15 other militants were killed in the incident.
Like several allegations made in the past, the NDS again tried to connect the insurgent group and their slain members with Pakistan.
“Haris, chief of Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba militants in the province, was also killed in the attack,” the statement added.
According to provincial police spokesman Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, Tuesday’s air raids by Afghan and U.S. forces on Taliban killed in total “nearly 160 militants” in Kunduz.
“Three Arab fighters were among those killed following the air raids,” Hussaini said.
Afghan air forces also struck Taliban`s alleged central command in Char Dara district Tuesday that destroyed 15 vehicles and a tank apart from killing several militants, the spokesman said.
A NATO spokesman on Tuesday morning also said that the U.S.-led coalition carried out its first airstrike in Kunduz city after its capture by the Taliban; he did not give any casualty figures for that incident.
The Afghan Taliban, however, denied the death of any of their top commanders in Kunduz. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid disputed all claims made by the Afghan authorities and claimed that the Taliban’s so called shadow governor Mullah Salam was still alive. “Kabul regime gives out incorrect news to increase the moral of its soldiers,” he said.
On the other hand, Taliban on Wednesday claimed to be making further gains in Kunduz and said that it had seized control of Bala Hisar, one of the two strongholds with Afghan security forces. It also said that many Afghan soldiers were either surrendering to Taliban or making a run towards the safety of the airport in Kunduz.
Afghan National Security Forces had launched a counter operation Tuesday morning to reclaim Kunduz city from Taliban. However, Afghan troops reportedly got stuck between Baghlan and Kunduz provinces due to heavily-mined roads and ambushes by militants.
Navluru Rao
Its important to say knowing well the comments are sent to dust bin by Pakis . Taliban are not only created by Paki Establishment but Talibs get virtually everything – sanctuary in comfort , logistics , ammunition , above all PROPAGANDA with the help of Pak.press who are their MOUTH PIECES for last 35 – 40 years & this includes Haqqanis / n. s . Wazaristan hide outs . The endless propaganda by Pak.press about Zarb – e – barb is so hollow , one spits on Pak.press/ establishment but NOT so by Pakis of all hues . What’s more PERPLEXING than this is – AMERICANS / rest of West knows everything PAKIS / PAK.PRESS is doing but they’ re prepared to sacrifice AMERICAN / AFGHAN lives rather than REMOVING GHQ en-mass . There should be Coalition of International FORCES which carry UN endorsement to ENTER Paki. Territory – to liquidate every suspect Paki ( also called Taliban ) , failing which this BREEDING GROUND called W.Pakistan , remains infested for ever . Why Americans are silent on this ? Because they ‘ re part of the scheme in propping up ISLAMIC ROGUE REGIME . No doubt about it . Anyone who heard Nawaz sppeech in UN to day were left with their mouth open for all nonsense spoken by him – not a word about Paki. involvement .