Over 40 freed from Taliban prison in US-Afghan raid

More than 40 soldiers and police personnel who were held captive in a Taliban prison were freed in a massive raid by the Afghan military operations. The Dawn reports that the operation was conducted in Nawzad district in the opium-rich province of Helmand in Afghanistan.

"Afghan special security forces... conducted a helicopter assault mission in Nawzad. After securing the prison, Afghan forces freed more than 40 prisoners comprising Afghan Police, Afghan National Army and Afghan Border Police members," the US military said in a statement.

However, the statement did not shed light on the role played by the US in the raid nor how and when the security personnel were taken hostage.

But a shroud of confusion still surrounds the fate of Taliban supremo Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, who was shot in a firefight during an argument between insurgent commanders in Pakistan. The daily reports that the militant group has slammed claims that Mansoor was critically wounded in a shootout at a gathering near Quetta.