SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, May 11 (Xinhua) -- A Taliban key commander Ali Murad along with two of his bodyguards were killed in northern Jawzjan province on Monday, provincial government spokesman Abdul Marouf Azar said.
"A group of militants under Ali Murad was planning to target security checkpoints in Aqcha district Monday morning but the security forces in preemptive action struck the militants' gathering, killing three rebels including infamous commander Ali Murad," Azar told Xinhua.
Five more militants sustained injuries in the raid, the official further said.
The official also admitted that one security personnel was killed and another wounded during the crackdown.
Describing Ali Murad as a notorious commander, the official asserted that Murad's death could deal a major blow to the Taliban militants in Jawzjan and its vicinity.
The security forces also arrested three Taliban militants in the northern Takhar province on Monday.
Taliban militants who have stepped up activities over the past couple of months haven't commented. Enditem
