Afghan airstrike kills Taliban commander

MAIDAN SHAHR, Afghanistan - Six Taliban militants, including  Mawlawi Naqibullah, a key commander, were killed in Wardak province 35 km west of capital Kabul as their hideout came under air attack early Monday morning, police said.

"A group of Taliban rebels were meeting in a house in Chak district at 01:00 am local time to chalk out terror attacks when the aircraft of NATO-led coalition forces stormed the hideout, killing six militants including Taliban key commander Mawalwi Naqibullah," police spokesman Abdul Wali told Xinhua.

He also said that Mawlawi Ghulam the shadowy governor of Taliban militants in Chak district was also killed in the attack. No civilians were injured, he added.

The elimination of Mawalwi Naqibullah is a major setback to the Taliban outfit in Wardak and adjoining provinces as he had organized Taliban operations in the province, he said.

Taliban militants fighting the government are yet to make comment.