Taliban shadow district governor killed in Afghan security operation

In Kunduz province, Afghan security forces killed the Taliban’s governor for Dasht-e-Archi district during an overnight raid on his compound; six other militants were also killed in the clash.

More details were reported by Xinhua:

“The security forces including police stormed a hideout of Taliban rebels in Dasht-e-Archi district at around 03:00 a.m. local time today, leaving seven militants including Qari Mohammad Halim, the shadowy governor of the district dead,” Hamid Agha the district police chief, told Xinhua.

There were no casualties on security forces, he added.

International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) released an operation update earlier this morning, possibly referring to the same operation; discrepancies remain, however, as to the total number of Taliban killed and the presence of Coalition forces during the raid that killed Qari Mohammad Halim.

More details from the ISAF Joint Command (IJC) operational update:

An Afghan and coalition security force killed five extremists during an operation in search of a senior Taliban leader in Archi district, Kunduz province, today.

The senior leader is responsible for constructing improvised explosive devices and suicide vests for use in extremist operations. He has also directed and coordinated attacks in Archi district resulting in the deaths of numerous Afghan National Security Force personnel.

During the operation, a group of extremists opened fire on the security force. The security force returned fire, killing five

The security force also seized one rocket-propelled grenade launcher, three RPGs, four machine guns and ammunition as a result of the operation.

Taliban groups in Kunduz, especially in the restive Dasht-e-Archi district, have weathered a series of tactical losses since last month when Afghan and Coalition forces ratcheted up operations targeting Taliban leaders and expert bombmakers active in the area.

Around June 9, Afghan forces killed three Taliban, including Ghulam Hazrat, a known expert bombmaker, during a clash in the Haji Naeem area of Dasht-e-Archi district.

On May 30, Coalition airstrikes killed three Taliban insurgents — Ghulam Dastagir, Siddique, and Mohammad Alam – after they were discovered to be hiding out in the Damshakh area of Dasht-e-Archi district.

And on May 26, Afghan police forces repulsed an attack against a police post in the Sarfaraz Tapa area of Dasht-e-Archi district, killing three Taliban fighters, including a commander named Mullah Jan Mohammad, according to Pajhwok Afghan News.

Afghan National Army (ANA) 5th Special Operations Kandak Commandos, Afghan Uniformed Police, and Coalition forces currently remain on the offensive against Taliban and Taliban-affiliated insurgents groups in the Dasht-i-Archi and Imam Sahib districts of Kunduz province.

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2 Comments

  • mike merlo says:

    Excellent Kill!

  • Alex says:

    It would be useful to get an Afghan OOB update. I know we had one a while back, but I assume much has changed since then, in terms of size, competency, and effectiveness.

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