(KUNA) -- The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said on Sunday that the allied troops had killed 10 suspected terrorists in one of Afghanistan's remote provinces in an air strike on Saturday. The militants, the NATO said, were killed in the mountainous Kunar province, which is bordering Pakistan's troubled Bajaur Agency. Kunar province is considered the stronghold of anti-US former warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and a hotbed of al-Qaeda members.NATO officer Colonel Shul in Kunar told journalists on Sunday that the allied forces had launched the attack on the basis of intelligence reports the military had received regarding the presence of the "terrorists" in a compound. He said they were holding meeting at a compound in Watapur district. The dead were members of al-Qaeda network and were operating under the command of Arab fighter Abu Ikhlas, who is said to be heading the network in Kunar and Nuristan provinces. Although, the officer did not say anything about commander Abu Ikhlas, he informed 10 of his men had been killed in the strike.
NATO's claim was also confirmed by Afghan officials. Governor of the province Didar Shalizai said 10 persons were killed in the attack. But the governor said the dead were Taliban fighters. The anti-government Taliban have also presence in Kunar and Nuristan provinces but members of al-Qaeda and men loyal to Gulbudding Hekmary are believed to be enjoying a sway in majority areas of the two provinces.