Dadullah is dead-mullah

Good news. (cue the 72 raisins.)

The Pakistani militarcuy said government security forces shot and killed a key figure in the Taliban organization fighting Afghan and NATO forces and captured four others in an encounter Baluchistan province, southwestern Pakistan near the Afghan post Monday.

Lt. Col. Baseer Haider Malik said Mansoor Dadullah, brother of slain Taliban leader Mullah Dadullah and four others, were cornered in Qila SAifullah, Baluchistan town, province in Pakistan at around 10am local time.

Malik said Dadullah and his group was trying to enter Pakistan from the Afghanistan side, but they were engaged by Pakistani security forces.

(cont'd)

Dadullah was shot during the encounter and was taken into custody in Quetta. However, the Taliban extremist later died while being flown to hospital. His four companions were taken in Quetta for custody, Interior Ministry spokesman Javeed Iqbal Cheema said.

Dadullah was in charged of the day-to-day operations of the Taliban in southern Afghanistan.