Afghan security forces kill key Taliban commander in N. province

Afghan national security forces killed a divisional commander of Taliban so-called Special Force or Sara Qetta in northern province of Kunduz on Friday, an army source said Saturday.

"Mumtaz was killed together with two of his comrades and three militants injured following a gunfight in Chahal Chinar locality, on outskirts of provincial capital Kunduz city," Nastraullah Jamshidi, a press officer of army Corps 209 Shaheen based in the region, twitted.

Violence has escalated in the previously peaceful northern region over the last few years as Afghan security forces push against the militants in the south and east.

The Taliban insurgent group, which has been waging an insurgency of more than 16 years, has yet to make comments.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)