PIRDAD, Afghanistan, Dec. 26 (UPI) -- A Taliban commander allegedly responsible for planning attacks against NATO forces was killed by security forces in Afghanistan Saturday, officials said.
Military officials said in a release that a joint Afghan-NATO security force went to a compound outside the town of Pirdad after intelligence sources confirmed militant activity. When troops approached the compound, the Taliban commander ran to a building, later identified as a mosque, and the security force followed, surrounding the mosque and calling for him to surrender.
When he didn't, the Afghan security force entered the mosque and the Taliban commander allegedly opened fire with an AK-47 rifle. He was then slain, the release said. Officials said the commander was heavily armed with grenades and hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
NATO claims the Taliban "continue(s) to violate the sanctity of mosques as protected places. The Afghan-international force does everything possible to avoid fighting in or around any known mosque."
A security force also captured several militants, including a known Taliban facilitator, in an operation in Khowst Friday night, NATO said.
