Afghan Taliban Commander Reportedly Killed In Quetta

QUETTA, Pakistan -- Afghan officials say a Taliban commander has been killed in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta.

Ghulam Jilani, the head of Afghan intelligence in the southern province of Zabul, told RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal on December 27 that Mullah Noorullah was killed by unknown gunmen in Quetta's Pashtunabad neighborhood the previous day.

Jilani said his assassination will weaken the Taliban in several districts of Zabul, where he led scores of Taliban fighters.

Afghan officials say Noorullah was a member of the Taliban leadership council dubbed the "Quetta Shura."

Kabul alleges that remnants of the former Taliban regime lead their insurgency inside Afghanistan from safe havens in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan Province.

The Taliban has not commented on reports of Noorullah's death.