Afghan airstrikes kill Taliban key commander in eastern Ghazni province

GHAZNI, Afghanistan, March 5 (Xinhua) -- A Taliban key commander named Kakar has been confirmed dead after fighting aircrafts targeted a Taliban hideout in Andar district of Afghansitan's eastern Ghazni province on Tuesday, provincial government spokesman Aref Nuri said.

"Acting on tip off, the fighting aircrafts pounded a Taliban hideout in Bakhshio village of Andar district in the wee hours of Tuesday, killing the notorious commander Kakar on the spot," Nuri told Xinhua.

A number of bodyguards of commander Kakar were also killed and injured during the air raids, the official said.

Andar district, according to locals, has been regarded as the fiefdom of the Taliban outfit in the troubled Ghazni province.

Physical elimination of commander Kakar, according to Nuri, is a major achievement in the war against Taliban fighters in the restive Ghazni province, which could demoralize the militant group to lose grounds.

Taliban militants are yet to make comment on the report.