Mullah Omar, supreme leader of Afghanistan's ousted Taliban movement, maybe is personally leading recent insurgencies in a southern border province, where Afghan and US troops are conducting a joint cleanup operation, a military official said on Thursday.
Fierce fighting erupted around noon in the day between government troops, backed by US helicopters and jet fighters, and Taliban guerrillas in Dai Chopan district of Zabul province, said Haji Janan, a commander of the Afghan Army whose troops are involved in the operation. Four government soldiers were injured and two pickup vehicles destroyed in the clash, he told Xinhua through telephone, but giving no information on the casualties on the enemy side. US gunship helicopters and jet fighters heavily bombed positions of the Taliban fighters in the mountainous areas during the clash. Janan said that the recently increasing Taliban insurgencies in the area may be related to a possible existence of Taliban top leader Mullah Omar in the areas, without giving evidence for his claim.
| What evidence would they need? His turban? His good eye? |
Over 500 Taliban fighters were actively involved in attacks against government targets in recent days in some areas of Zabul province, which borders Pakistan. Some members of al-Qaeda network were probably among these Taliban fighters, according to the official. "We have monitored radio conversations in Arabic and Urdu languages these days in the area where we are carrying out the operation," Janan said.
| That's a pretty good indication, I'd say. I hope their RDF is up to snuff — so to speak... |
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