Spring Break
NATO: Taliban commander among 10 killed in strike
SEBASTIAN ABBOT -The Associated Press
Issue date: 3/24/09 Section: News
KABUL (AP) - NATO troops killed a senior Taliban commander and nine other militants in southern Afghanistan, officials said Monday, striking a blow in the group's heartland where the U.S. plans to send thousands of additional troops to stem the growing violence.
Over a dozen Afghan and coalition forces have been killed in the south in recent days, including eight Afghan police who were killed by Taliban fighters Monday in the Kandahar province.
U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban government in 2001, but many of the militants fled south and east to Pakistan where they have been launching cross-border attacks into Afghanistan alongside al-Qaida. President Barack Obama has already pledged to send an additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan this year and is working with his team to overhaul U.S. strategy with the hope of improving security and stability in the country.
Senior Taliban commander Maulawi Hassan and his associates were killed Saturday when NATO troops attacked an isolated compound in the Kajaki area of southern Helmand province, NATO said in a statement, adding that there were no civilians involved.
"Maulawi Hassan was a senior insurgent figure in northern Helmand, and his influence extended into western Oruzgan," the statement said.
Afghan forces have also stepped up their operations against militants in the south.
On Monday, Afghan police and intelligence agents detained five Taliban militants in Oruzgan, including the group's senior commander for the province, Mullah Azizullah, said police officer Wali Jan.
The militants were stopped in Arzo district while driving from the city of Quetta in neighboring Pakistan, Jan said.
Quetta is believed to be a safe haven for many senior Taliban leaders, including the group's supreme leader, Mullah Omar, according to Afghan officials. Pakistan denies the claim and says Omar is in Afghanistan.
The eight Afghan police who were killed Monday were ambushed by Taliban fighters while on patrol in southern Kandahar province's Spin Boldak district, said Sahib Jan, a police officer. The attack also wounded one policeman, he said.
Over a dozen Afghan and coalition forces have been killed in the south in recent days, including eight Afghan police who were killed by Taliban fighters Monday in the Kandahar province.
U.S.-led forces toppled the Taliban government in 2001, but many of the militants fled south and east to Pakistan where they have been launching cross-border attacks into Afghanistan alongside al-Qaida. President Barack Obama has already pledged to send an additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan this year and is working with his team to overhaul U.S. strategy with the hope of improving security and stability in the country.
Senior Taliban commander Maulawi Hassan and his associates were killed Saturday when NATO troops attacked an isolated compound in the Kajaki area of southern Helmand province, NATO said in a statement, adding that there were no civilians involved.
"Maulawi Hassan was a senior insurgent figure in northern Helmand, and his influence extended into western Oruzgan," the statement said.
Afghan forces have also stepped up their operations against militants in the south.
On Monday, Afghan police and intelligence agents detained five Taliban militants in Oruzgan, including the group's senior commander for the province, Mullah Azizullah, said police officer Wali Jan.
The militants were stopped in Arzo district while driving from the city of Quetta in neighboring Pakistan, Jan said.
Quetta is believed to be a safe haven for many senior Taliban leaders, including the group's supreme leader, Mullah Omar, according to Afghan officials. Pakistan denies the claim and says Omar is in Afghanistan.
The eight Afghan police who were killed Monday were ambushed by Taliban fighters while on patrol in southern Kandahar province's Spin Boldak district, said Sahib Jan, a police officer. The attack also wounded one policeman, he said.
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