NATO-led air strike kills senior Haqqani leader in eastern Afghanistan

[News_Editor]

NATO-led air strike kills senior Haqqani leader in eastern Afghanistan

2011-10-06 01:31:10 GMT+7 (ICT)

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- An airstrike carried out by coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday killed a senior Haqqani leader and two of his associates, the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said.

The Haqqani leader, who was identified as Dilawar, was killed during a precision air strike in the Musa Khel district, located in Afghanistan's eastern province of Khost. Dilawar was allegedly a principal subordinate to Haji Mali Khan, Afghanistan's lead Haqqani network leader.

"Dilawar operated along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, between the Khost and Paktia provinces, where he actively coordinated numerous attacks against Afghan forces and facilitated the movement of weapons," an ISAF statement said.

Dilawar's death, which was described as another 'significant milestone' in the disruption of the Haqqani network in Afghanistan, comes exactly one week after Khan's capture.

Khan was captured in the Jani Khel district of Paktia province, south of the capital of Kabul. He was believed to be one of the highest ranking members of the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network which is considered one of the top terrorist organizations and threats to U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Mali Khan reportedly managed bases and had oversight of operations in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

In addition to his local activities, Dilawar is also suspected of facilitating the movement of foreign fighters and was associated with both al-Qaida and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

Prior to Mali Khan's capture by the combined Afghan and coalition security force, he worked closely with Dilawar planning attacks throughout the area. Specifically, Dilawar had just conducted an ambush on Afghan forces in Paktia province last month.

ISAF did not disclose information regarding the other two individuals killed during the operation.

The NATO-led security forces earlier said it has conducted more than 530 operations in an effort to disrupt Haqqani network activities in Eastern Afghanistan this year, resulting in the deaths of 20 network leaders and the capture of more than 1,400 suspected Haqqani insurgents.

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