Taliban commander killed in Pakistan
Pakistani security forces have gunned down Taliban commander Asmatullah Mehsud in South Waziristan tribal region, sparking confusion about the killing of the similarly named militant Asmatullah Bhittani for whom authorities had offered a reward of Rs 1 crore.
"Asmatullah Mehsud was killed in a clash in Shaktoi area of South Waziristan Agency on December 7," sources said on Friday, adding that Asmatullah Bhittani is still alive and was seen in the region a few days ago.
The slain militant was close to other Taliban commanders from the Mehsud tribe.
Mr Bhittani was earlier active in Tank district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province but rivals forced him to flee to South Waziristan, where he joined Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in a US drone strike in 2009.
Meanwhile, 13 Taliban militants, including four key commanders, have surrendered to security forces in the restive Bajaur tribal region of northwest Pakistan, officials have said.
The militants surrendered to a jirga or tribal council at Charmang valley in Bajaur Agency bordering Afghanistan on Saturday.
The militants handed over some heavy weaponry during a ceremony attended by top military and political officials.
The militants who surrendered were wanted by security forces for various crimes. Their surrender was facilitated by the efforts of tribal elders, officials said.
Col Muhammad Arshad, the commander of anti-militancy operations in the area, told the media that Charmang valley has almost been cleared of militants and those remaining have no option but to surrender.
The security forces had launched an effective operation in the area, where the situation is returning to normal.
No untoward incidents had been reported for many days and about 1,500 militants have surrendered in Bajaur Agency during the past year, he said.
In a separate development, security forces seized a cache of arms and ammunition during a search operation in Charmang area.
In yet another development, militants kidnapped a tribesman for allegedly spying for the government in Orakzai Agency.
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