KANDAHAR, Afghanistan - A Taleban commander and his deputy were among 11 rebel fighters killed in a clash in southern Afghanistan, which also left five policemen dead, a provincial official said on Monday. Eight policemen and five Taleban were wounded in the hours-long clash in Kandahar province on Sunday and three rebels were arrested, a provincial government spokesman, Mohammad Daud Ahmadi, told AFP.Among the Taleban dead were a provincial level commander, Mullah Abdul Baqi, and his deputy Mullah Abdul Manan, Ahmadi said.
The fighting started in KandaharÂ’s Panjwayi district after police had gone to the area after tip-offs that Taleban were there. Panjwayi, about 35 kilometres (21 miles) west of Kandahar city, is known to be a hideout for Taleban militants who have been waging a guerrilla-like insurgency against President Hamid KarzaiÂ’s government for more than four years. The district borders Helmand province, which also sees regular attacks blamed on Taleban insurgents said to be allied with the Al Qaeda network and opium traders.