Kabul: The international troops fighting Taliban militants in Afghanistan have killed a senior rebel commander and captured eight insurgents in two separate operations.

The killing of Taliban commander Mullah Asad during a targeted operation in the southern province of Helmand Nov 19 was confirmed by the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in a release Sunday.

"Mullah Asad died as a result of a successful operation by ISAF," it said. "Asad was a senior Taliban operational commander for southern Helmand and was linked with numerous attacks in the Garmsir district."

"Asad's death comes three weeks after another senior commander in Garmsir, Mullah Mashar, was killed during a similar operation," ISAF commander Brigadier General Richard Blanchette said, adding that these operations significantly undermined Taliban's offensive capability.

In the other operation in Paktika in eastern Afghanistan, the US-led coalition forces Saturday detained eight suspected militants.

"The force searched a compound in Urgun district, targeting a commander of the militant group led by Jalaluddin Haqqani known to plan and conduct attacks against local civilians, Afghan and international troops," said the statement.

 

Source : ians