Airstrike kills Haqqani leader

KABUL — NATO forces killed a local commander for the Haqqani insurgent group in an airstrike in eastern Afghanistan, the military alliance said Monday. Sher Mohammad Hakimi was hit Sunday in Logar province, the coalition said. Hakimi was sitting under a tree with some associates when the NATO strike killed him, said Logar province police chief, Raeis Khan Rahimzai.

He said four others were injured. According to Rahimzai, Hakimi was known for organizing roadside bomb attacks and for training insurgents. NATO said Hakimi transported weapons through the region and served directly under Haqqani leader Muhammad Agha. The Haqqani network is allied with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda and is believed to be responsible for a host of attacks in Kabul and surrounding provinces. — AFP