Clash leaves Taliban key commander, Afghan police dead

Clash claimed the lives of a Taliban key commander named Mullah Nasir and a police in the southern Paktika province with Sharan as its capital 155 km south of Kabul on Thursday, local official Mukhils Afghan said. "A group of Taliban militants commanded by Mullah Nasir raided a checkpoint of local police in Orgon district at 02:00 a.m. local time today and police retaliated. The firefight lasted for half an hour during which Mullah Nasir was killed and four more militants sustained injuries," Mukhlis Afghan told Xinhua. He also confirmed that a local policeman was killed, another injured and a police van was damaged in the firefight. The official said the elimination of Mullah Nasir is a major setback to the Taliban militants in Paktika province and adjoining areas. Taliban militants have yet to make comment.