Senior Taliban commander among 7 killed in premature mine blast

MEHTARLAM, Afghanistan, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Seven Taliban militants including a senior commander Mullah Qasim, nicknamed Abbas, were killed and nine others injured after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded prematurely in Afghanistan's Laghman province on Monday, spokesman for the provincial government Sarhadi Zowak said Tuesday.

The incident, according to the official, took place at about 5:00 a.m. local time Monday when the explosives placed inside a mini-bus exploded accidentally in Norlam area of Alingar district, leaving seven insurgents dead and nine others injuried

Taliban militants are yet to comment on the report.