KABUL commander in a drone strike in northern Kunduz province.
A day earlier, the Taliban also confirmed losing Mullah Abdul Salam, their shadow governor for Kunduz, to the drone attack.
“As part of an operation with Afghan National Defense and Security Forces, United States Forces conducted a strike that killed Mullah Salam… along with four other enemy combatants on Feb. 26,” the coalition said in a statement. “No civilians were hurt or killed in this strike.”
The US forces in a statement said Salam was responsible for immeasurable suffering among population of Kunduz.
Salam and Taliban forces attacked civilians and other non-combatants and destroyed bridges and key infrastructure despite claims that they would protect civilians and property.
“Mullah Salam and the Taliban fighters under him murdered and terrorized the people of Kunduz for too long,” said Gen. John Nicholson, commander, US Forces – Afghanistan.
“Salam’s death is an opportunity for change. The people of Afghanistan want peace and the Government of Afghanistan is committed to achieving peace through reconciliation. The Taliban know the only path forward is reconciliation.”
The statement said the drone strike was conducted under US authorities as part of a larger ANDSF operation.
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