By Zabihullah Tamanna
KABUL, Afghanistan
A US drone strike killed an alleged prominent terrorist commander belonging to the Haqqani network and four of his companions in eastern Afghanistan Tuesday morning, a senior police official said.
The attack was reported in the Zurmat district of Paktia province.
Commander Abdul Wali was said to be not only a Haqqani network leader, but also an "in charge of handling suicide bombers" for targets in Kabul, Deputy provincial police chief Mirzaman told Anadolu Agency.
He added that the alleged terrorist had also organized numerous attacks on Afghan and international targets in the country.
Mirzaman said all those killed were residents of Gardez city, the provincial capital of Paktia province.
The terrorist Haqqani network is said to be based in the border tribal region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. It is said to have close links with al Qaeda and Taliban militants.
Recently, the Afghan interior ministry had blamed the Haqqani network for a deadly coordinated attack on the Kabul airport on July 17 that left several people dead.
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