Afghan Forces Kill Shadow Taliban Deputy Governor

A senior Taliban figure in north-eastern Afghanistan has been killed along with four other militants by Afghan security forces, an official said on Thursday.

Sediq Sediqqi, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry confirmed this when he spoke on security situation in the country,

“Five Taliban fighters including Mavlawi Shafaq, shadow Taliban deputy governor for Kapisa province, were killed in a military operation in Tagab district Wednesday night,’’ Sediqqi said.

The Taliban appointed its own members as supposed governors for provinces and districts, referred to as “shadow Taliban’’ by government officials.

Meanwhile, these shadow governors have no official status.

“In separate operations, four militants were killed and three others arrested in Kabul and the provinces of Kandahar and Badakhshan,’’ the Defence Ministry said.

A ministry statement said that three soldiers were killed during the operations when their vehicle struck a roadside bomb.

Reports say there has been an upsurge in violence in Afghanistan in the run-up to Afghan forces taking over full responsibility for the country’s security on Jan. 1.

No fewer than 13,000 foreign troops, mostly from the U.S., would remain to be trainers and advisors to the Afghan troops.

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