Taliban leader's death a big blow
Commander is 3rd key loss in 6 months

By Kim Barker
Tribune foreign correspondent
Published May 14, 2007

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- The killing of a major Taliban military commander over the weekend means three top leaders have been lost in the past six months, raising questions about whether the militants' long-promised spring offensive in Afghanistan will happen this year.

Mullah Dadullah, the Taliban's most notorious military commander and a major architect of the Afghan insurgency, accused of bringing especially brutal tactics to the Taliban, was killed in a U.S.-led battle in southern Helmand province, officials announced Sunday. His body was recovered by Afghan authorities and shown to reporters in Kandahar. There were two bullet wounds in his stomach and one in his head.



The killing of the one-legged Dadullah is a major victory against the Taliban, which is trying to overthrow the government after being driven out of power in late 2001. Dadullah's death could disrupt the insurgency over the next few months, although it's not clear whether the movement will be hurt in the long run.

The killing of the one-legged Dadullah is a major victory against the Taliban, which is trying to overthrow the government after being driven out of power in late 2001. Dadullah's death could disrupt the insurgency over the next few months, although it's not clear whether the movement will be hurt in the long run.