Senior Taliban commander whose son made headlines killed in eastern Afghanistan

KABUL (BNO NEWS) — A senior Taliban commander whose son made international headlines for beheading an ‘American spy’ in 2007 has been killed by coalition forces in eastern Afghanistan.

NATO on Saturday said senior Taliban commander Ghulam Sakhi was killed during an operation near the village of Qal-eh Saber, in the Pul-e ‘Alam district of Logar province, on Friday night.

The alliance said intelligence sources had tracked Sakhi to a compound in the area after which an Afghan-international security force neared the building to apprehend him.

“Afghan forces used a loudspeaker and called for women and children to exit the building,” NATO said. “As they were exiting, Sakhi came out with the group disguised in women’s attire and pulled out a pistol and a grenade and shot at the security force. When Afghan and coalition forces shot him he dropped the grenade and it detonated wounding a woman and two children.”

The wounded were immediately evacuated to a nearby hospital.

Sakhi was allegedly involved in numerous improvised explosive device (IED) attacks, ambushes and indirect fire attacks throughout the province. He is also accused of kidnapping and murdering a National Directorate of Security chief in Logar province.

NATO said several suspected insurgents were detained for questioning after the operation. “Afghan and coalition forces realize women and children present during these offensive operations are often innocent bystanders to the insurgent activities taking place inside their homes. The security force goes to great lengths to respect Afghan customs and protect them throughout their searches,” NATO said.

Sakhi’s son made international headline in April 2007 after a video emerged that showed his 12-year-old son beheading an ‘American spy.’ Sakhi said his son was a loyal Taliban member.

During another joint operation in Afghanistan’s Zabul province, severel insurgents were killed as a result of a precision airstrike.

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