Taliban key commander among 5 killed in N. Afghanistan

Afghanistan

TALUQAN, Afghanistan, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Five militants including a Taliban key commander have been killed in Afghanistan's northern Takhar province on Sunday, provincial police spokesman Abdul Khalil Asir said.

The clash flared up after a group of Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints in Bandkasha village of Eshkamish district Sunday morning.

As a result of the clash, six people including a police constable and five insurgents including Taliban key commander Mullah Abdullah Nasiri, alias Abu Abida, have been killed, the spokesman said.

Five more militants and two security personnel have been injured, he added.

The security forces would continue to pursue the militants in Eshkamish and its vicinity.

Taliban militants are yet to make comment on the clash.