THREE senior Taliban freed in return for the release of an Italian journalist were killed during an operation in which top Taliban commander Mullah Dadullah also died, security forces said today.
The trio, including a brother of Dadullah, were travelling with him when they were attacked and killed in a district in the south at the weekend, the Afghan intelligence service said.
"Mullah Shah Mansoor -- Dadullah's brother -- Mullah Hamdullah and Mullah Ghafar, all Taliban commanders, were killed in the same operation," the service said.
The three were among five senior Taliban who were released in exchange for Italian journalist Daniele Mastrogiacomo, who had been kidnapped by Dadullah's men in early March.
Mr Mastrogiacomo was held captive for three weeks but his interpreter, Afghan reporter Ajmal Naqshbandi, and driver were beheaded. Dadullah was blamed for the killings.
The US-led coalition said earlier this month that another of the prisoners freed in the same swap had been killed in fighting in the west.
Blamed for kidnappings and beheading of hostages and organising a spate of suicide bombings, Dadullah was the most senior Taliban leader to die since the regime was driven from power in 2001.
The statement said the rebel commander was pursued "with (the) most modern intelligence technology from the Pakistani border before being killed."
Source : www.theaustralian.news.com.au
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