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High-Ranking Taliban Official Killed In Northern Afghanistan

RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan

   A high-ranking Taliban official has been killed in clashes with
   security forces inJowzjan province in Afghanistan's north, a local
   official said Saturday.
   QariNuriddin and his four bodyguards were killed in the district
   ofMengajik, where the militant group has a strong presence, provincial
   government spokesman AbdulMaarufAzar told RFE/RL.
   Four other militants were wounded in the clashes that erupted
   overnight, the spokesman said.
   There was no immediate comment from the Taliban.
   Azar also confirmed local reports that more than 25 members of the
   Taliban inMengajikhad recently cut ties with the militant group to
   return to civilian life.
   Azar told RFE/RL that all of them were young men from
   theMengajikdistrict.
   Most of them had leftforIran and Turkey in search of work, Azar said.
   He didn't provide further details.

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