Key Taliban leaders, 27 militants killed in Afghanistan

At least 27 Taliban militants, including a "shadow district governor" Mawlawe Jalal and another leader Najib Azad, who were responsible for several attacks in Afghanistan, were killed Sunday, officials said.

In seven "clean-up" operations carried out by the Afghan army, police and NATO-led forces in Kunduz, Wardak, Nangarhar, Ghazni and Helmand provinces, nine other militants were arrested, Xinhua quoted the interior ministry as saying in a statement.
 
The statement did not say if there were any casualties among the security forces.

The Taliban's shadowy district governor Mawlawe Jalal and seven of his men were killed in an airstrike in Ghazi Abad district of eastern Kunar province, provincial government spokesman Wasifullah Wasifi told Xinhua.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told local media via cell phone from an undisclosed location that six Taliban were killed and eight wounded in Kunar. He did not confirm the death of Jalal.

Another Taliban leader Najib Azad was killed and five other militants detained in Guzara district of western Herat province, deputy police chief Zahir Tahibzada told Xinhua.

Azad was responsible for several attacks and the killing of four police officers in Guzara recently.

Police said no civilian and police official were injured in the operation.