KABUL, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Clash between two former local commanders in Takhar province northeast Afghanistan claimed the lives of three persons including a teacher and his pupil, a local official said Saturday.

    "A gun battle erupted between two former commanders namely Abdul Awal and Abdul Qahar in Farkhar district on Friday as a result three persons including a teacher and a student were killed," Abdul Aziz the district chief of Farkhar told Xinhua.

    Although, thousands of Afghans have been disarmed under the UN-backed Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) program, still many Afghans particularly the former commanders keep weapons at home and easily use in the lawless countryside.