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| India-Pakistan |
| Three Taliban commanders killed in Swat: ISPR |
| 2009-07-09 |
| [The News (Pak) Top Stories] Continuing the operation against militants in the war-ravaged Swat district, security forces on Tuesday claimed that a brother of top Taliban leader Ibne Amin was among three commanders killed in the valley. Also, two more militants were killed in the Bajaur Agency, when security forces targeted the hideouts of the militants with artillery guns. According to the ISPR, security forces carried out a search and sweep operation in selected houses at Shukdarra area of Swat. "On a tip-off, terrorist commander Muhammad Rasool, brother of Ibne Amin, and commander Akram were killed," the ISPR claimed. Ibne Amin is a senior Taliban commander in Swat, who carries a bounty of Rs10 million on his head but has evaded the major military offensive so far. Earlier, security forces had also claimed to have killed Ibne Aqeel, another brother of Ibne Amin, during the initial days of the ongoing military operation. However, later the Taliban denied the forces' assertion about Aqeel's killing but conceded that he was wounded. No independent account about the killing of Muhammad Rasool was available. The ISPR said 13 suspected 'terrorists' were apprehended, along with eight small machine guns, two pistols, four 7-MM rifles and 50 rounds, in the Shukdarra area. Security forces launched a house-to-house search operation to hunt down Taliban militants hiding in houses in the Bararai area near the Khwazakhela town. "A local terrorist commander, Wahab, was killed and 14 other suspects were apprehended in the search operation," the ISPR claimed. The soldiers, it added, also secured the Degree College Matta and sanitised the area straddling on the Matta-Kharirai road. Security forces carried out a search and clearance operation at Zangai near Mangaltan and destroyed six 'terrorists' houses. A resident from Mingora, the district headquarters of Swat, told The News by phone that the soldiers raided six shops and two houses, allegedly owned by Taliban militants. He added that the people were allowed to take away items and goods from the shops and houses. However, he said some computers and air-conditioners were confiscated by security forces. In the Bajaur Agency, two more militants were killed and three others injured in fresh military action in the Charmang area of Nawagai Tehsil. Sources said security forces targeted suspected the hideouts of militants with artillery and mortar guns in Ziarat and other areas of the Charmang Valley, killing two Taliban insurgents and injuring three others. Two hideouts were also destroyed in the action. It was learnt that security forces expedited advancement to capture the strategically important hilltops the in Charmang area. On way to other areas, security forces defused several remote-controlled bombs on roadside. Meanwhile, a militant was killed in Maddi area of Bannu district when security forces clashed with the Taliban during a search operation at Maddi. Seven other suspected terrorists were apprehended, the ISPR said. |
| Posted by:Fred |