A Taliban leader behind kidnapping reported killed

The AP reports that "Afghan security forces killed a Taliban commander they alleged Tuesday to be behind the July kidnappings of 23 South Korean church workers." The government raid is one of several military operations in Ghazni since the hostages were released (another was conducted by the coalition) and is part of a strategy to reassert authority there and to save face after the hostage crisis. The timing suggests the coalition knew where these guys were quartered and were just waiting for the conclusion of the hostage standoff before striking.

American military officials also reported that a dozen Taliban were killed in a separate five-hour battle in Sha Wali Kot district in Kandahar.

Afghanistan: Taliban Kidnapper Killed By AMIR SHAH (AP): ... Ghazni has seen several military operations since the release of the hostages, possibly reflecting a desire by the central government to stamp its authority on the rebellious region following the abductions.

Allayar said Mateen played a key role in the kidnapping, including telephone negotiations with the government. He said another Taliban leader wanted over the kidnappings, Mullah Abdullah Jan, remained at large.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said seven insurgents were killed in the clash, all of them ordinary fighters. He said the Taliban had no commander called Mullah Mateen, and said he did not know who the government was referring to.

In the past, Afghan authorities have claimed to have killed local Taliban commanders that turned out to be false. Taliban spokesman have also downplayed or lied about the extent of their battlefield losses.

Earlier, the U.S. led-coalition said in a statement its troops, along with Afghan forces, killed "several" militants overnight in the same part of Ghazni where Allayer said Mateen and the 15 others was killed.

The statement made no mention of Mateen and it was not immediately clear whether it was referring to the same battle.