Afghan forces claim killing top Haqqani commander

The dead commander has been identified as Qari Qudrullah

Afghan forces claimed on Friday that they have killed dozens of Taliban insurgents – including a top commander of the dreaded Haqqani network – in an operation in central Maidan Wardak province of the country.

The operation was conducted in Nerkh district of Wardak by Afghan Special Forces, Khamaa Press quoted Afghan officials as saying.



According to the spokesperson for the provincial governor Abdul Rahman Mangsal, the Afghan forces conducted an operation late Tuesday night, in which around 20 Taliban fighters were killed.

"Several Taliban commanders were among those killed," Mangsal said.

However, another official from the Afghan government has claimed that more than 30 insurgents were killed in the operation, including Qari Qudrullah, a senior commander of the Haqqani network.



The Taliban have not issued a statement regarding the raid, and the insurgents could not be contacted to verify the claims made by Afghan officials.

Maidan Wardak is one of the unstable provinces in central Afghanistan, located close to Kabul, where an insurgency is raging. Armed groups are operating with impunity in its various districts and often carry out attacks against government and occupying forces in the area.