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1st LD: Key Taliban commander killed in blast in northern Afghanistan

TALUQAN, Afghanistan, Jan 3 (PNA/Xinhua) -- A key Taliban commander has been killed and two of his bodyguards sustained injures as their explosive device went off accidentally in the northern Takhar province on Tuesday, an army spokesman said.

Taliban's notorious commander Qari Hakim, known as Mullah Omar, was killed early Tuesday in a mine blast when he was planting the device on a road in Ashkamish district to target a security forces' convey, Abdul Khalil told Xinhua.

Qari Hakim was a key commander of the Taliban in Takhar and also served as deputy governor of Ashkamish district, Khalil said.

His physical elimination could prove a major setback to the Taliban militants operating in Takhar and neighboring Kunduz province, according to the official.

Taliban militants have yet to confirm the report. (PNA/Xinhua)