Rumours about the killing of Taliban commander Omar Khalid in a military strike in Mohmand Agency were rife on Wednesday, but Taliban sources rejected the reports, calling them baseless. Reports said commander Abdul Ali, alias Omar Khalid, was killed in last night's military offensive in Mohmand Agency, while his second-in-command Shakil had been injured. Locals told Daily Times that Omar Khalid's house was destroyed in the operation while he was inside.However, a Taliban commander said Omar Khalid was alive. "Omar Khalid is alive and we shall present him before the media in a day or two," a Taliban commander told Daily Times over telephone.
Meanwhile, security forces on Wednesday arrested seven terrorists, including a senior Al Qaeda operative allegedly wanted in connection with the 2005 attacks on London, catching them off guard in a raid in Peshawar, AFP reported.
The forces arrested the Taliban after storming their hideout, a senior security official told AFP on condition of anonymity. The official named the Al Qaeda operative allegedly wanted for the July 7, 2005 suicide bombings in London, as Zabi Ul Taifi, an Arab national.
Local officials confirmed the arrests, saying American investigators were present at the time of the operation. "He's been arrested in Peshawar this morning," the first security official said. "It was a well-planned raid carried out against a militant den. The culprits were caught off guard and captured without resistance," the official said.