By Zabihullah Tamanna

KABUL, Afghanistan 

A U.S. drone strike in the eastern Nangarhar province of Afghanistan has killed at least 17 suspected Taliban insurgents, including a local commander, late Monday, police said Tuesday.

According to provincial police spokesman, Hazrat Hussian Mashriqiwal, the drone strike targeted Taliban militants in the Basawool Bely area of Mohmand Dara district on Monday afternoon. 

"Famous Taliban commander Mullah Daoud and 16 other militants have been killed in a U.S. drone attack," Mashriqiwal told the Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.

"Taliban insurgents have intensified their activities in Nangarhar province, as they constantly infiltrate Afghan soil from neighboring Pakistan," he added.

In a similar attack on Sunday, a Taliban commander and 11 other militants were killed in Mohmand Dara district.

"Since Taliban insurgents have increased their movements in the eastern region, we and our allies act accordingly," Mashriqiwal said.

He added that an investigation team was sent to the area to identify the bodies and look for the possible presence of foreign insurgents. 

The Taliban spokesman was not available for comment.