Taliban commander killed: Afghan official

Afghan and the NATO-led troops during encounter with Taliban insurgents in Marja district of the southern Helmand province eliminated a Taliban commander Mullah Karam, spokesman for provincial administration Daud Ahmadi said Thursday.

"A unit of Afghan forces and international troops during a routine patrol in Marja district on late Wednesday came in contact with Taliban rebels and killed Mullah Karam alias Mullah Salis," Ahmadi told Xinhua.

He also described Mullah Karam as an important Taliban figure in Helmand province, saying his elimination would further consolidate government authority there.

Meantime, Taliban spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmadi claimed he has no information if Mullah Karam is killed.

Marja, a fiefdom of Taliban insurgents in the southern region was captured in the wake of major military operation launched in mid February.

Source: Xinhua