Key Taliban commander killed

2007-08-30 13:54

Kandahar - One of the Taliban's top commanders, said to be a brother-in-law of the militia's leader, and several of his men were allegedly killed in clashes on Thursday, the Afghan defence ministry said.

The ministry said intelligence indicated that Mullah Brader, one of the Taliban's most senior commanders, was among several rebels killed in an intense battle near a Taliban stronghold in the southern province of Helmand.

"Military intelligence reports indicate that Mullah Brader and several enemy fighters were killed in the fighting involving air support," the ministry said.

Brader is said to be related to Taliban chief Mullah Omar through marriage and is known to be close to the one-eyed fugitive leader.

He is also reportedly a member of the extremist movement's powerful leadership council and was the military commander for western Afghanistan during the 1996-2001 Taliban regime.

- AFP