“Refuting Patan claim, Taliban said all those killed in the drone strike were civilians”
AT-KABUL: At least 34 suspected Taliban militants have been killed when a drone strike targeted a funeral ceremony in the southeastern Khost province, said a local official.
The Deputy Governor of Khost province, Abdul Wahid Patan, said that the US drone struck an area near Durand Line in Washer district of the province on Friday.
Patan initially said that all those killed in the incident were the Taliban militants, but later confirmed some civilians were also among the casualties. “The insurgents had gathered for the funeral of a Taliban commander when they were attacked,” he added.
According to Patan, the Taliban commander was killed by Afghan security forces the other day.
The Taliban has said that more than 20 people have been killed in the drone strike. The militant group in a statement said that all the killed people were civilians.