Taliban’s deputy governor for Helmand killed

LASHKARGAH (Pajhwok): Local officials on Sunday claimed the Taliban’s shadow deputy governor for southern Helmand province has been killed in an airstrike.

Maj. Gen. Wali Mohammad Ahmadzai, the commander for 215th Military Corps in Helmand, told Pajhwok Afghan News that Mullah Nasar, the deputy governor, was travelling in a vehicle along with another commander Saifullah, when they came under attack.

He said Mullah Nasar was Taliban’s deputy governor and commander of the group’s “Red Unit.”

Heroin producing labs

Ahmadzai also said a number of heroin producing factories were also destroyed in the province. He said 400 airstrikes carried out in Helmand and each killed one to 30 militants during the past eight months.

Airstrikes would increase in Helmand in future, Ahmdazai concluded.

More than 10 narcotics production factories have been destroyed in US airstrikes over the past two weeks.

The Taliban have so far issued no statement about attacks on drug factories and the death of Mullah Naser. But some of the group’s sources confirmed Mullah Naser had been killed.

mds/ma