Taliban key commander, 8 others killed in E. Afghanistan

ALALABAD (NNI): A Taliban key commander Zarqawi and eight of his armed men were killed in air strikes in the eastern Nangarhar province with Jalalabad as its capital, 120 km east of Kabul late Monday night, police said Tuesday.

“Acting upon intelligence report, the security forces conducted air strikes in Sorkot area of Shirzad district late last night, killing nine insurgents including notorious commander Zarqawi,” provincial police spokesman Hazrat Hussain Mashriqiwal told reporters here.

The physical elimination of Zarqawi is a major blow to Taliban militants in Nangarhar and the neighboring provinces of Kunar and Nuristan, the official added.

Zarqawi, according to locals, besides involvement in organizing roadside and suicide bombings, also beheaded his targets if captured.

Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to make comment.