Afghan airstrikes kill 7 Taliban militants, including commander in eastern Paktia province

GARDEZ, Afghanistan, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- Seven militants including a local commander have been confirmed dead as fighting planes struck a Taliban hideout in Jaji Aryub district of Afghanistan's eastern Paktia province on Sunday, an army statement said Monday.

Acting upon intelligence report, the fighting planes pounded a Taliban hideout in Kata Sang area of the restive Jaji Aryub district Sunday afternoon killing seven insurgents including their local commander Rahmatullah alias Margai on the spot, the statement said.

Taliban militants who are operational in parts of Paktia and the neighboring Khost and Paktika provinces have yet to make comment.