From correspondents in Kabul, Afghanistan, 04:01 PM IST

Afghan army and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in a joint operation have killed a senior Taliban leader in southern Afghanistan's Helmand province, an ISAF statement said Thursday.

Mullah Bismullah Akhund was a senior leader of the insurgent group responsible for supplying weapons and explosives to the rebel fighters, the statement said.

Bismullah was closely associated with local Taliban leader Mullah Rahim, whose brother was also killed during the July 12 operation, it added.

Taliban-led insurgency, which has become more intense this year, has killed more than 2,000 people including over 700 civilians till date this year in Afghanistan.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)