Militant Leader Killed In Northern Afghanistan

By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan

October 17, 2014

A leader of the Jundullah militant group has reportedly been killed in northern Afghanistan.

Hasib Siddiqi, spokesman for Afghanistan's National Security Directorate, told RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan on October 17 that Mullah Shamsuddin, also known as Qori Zubair, and another militant commander Qori Asad were killed in an air strike the previous day.

Siddiqi said Zubair was involved in plotting the assassinations of senior government officials in northern Afghanistan.

Afghan intelligence says the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan operates in Afghanistan under the name Jundullah.

Several people have been apprehended in Tajikistan who authorities say were members of Jundullah.

It was unclear exactly where the two militants were killed. Some Afghan officials have said the two were killed in the Baghlan Province while others said they were killed in the Takhar Province.

With additional reporting by RFE/RL's Tajik Service