A total of 17 militants, including shadow district Governor Mawlawi Abdul Khaleq, were killed when security forces stormed their hideout in Afghanistan's Balkh province on Friday, police said.
"Acting on a tip-off, the security forces stormed the hideout of Taliban insurgents in Islam village of Shortepa district early on Friday killing 17 rebels including shadow district governor Mawlawi Abdul Khaleq on the spot," a police spokesman in the northern region Sayed Sarwar Hussaini told Xinhua.
Mawlawi Abdul Khaleq, according to the official, had served as shadow district governor of Taliban in Qarqin district of the neighbouring Jawzjan province and obviously visited Shortepa district to regroup Taliban fighters in Balkh province.
Taliban militants have not commented on the report.
--IANS
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