Thursday, February 18, 2010

Daily Times, Pakistan, MIRANSHAH:

A US drone strike killed at least three suspected Taliban on Wednesday at a compound close to the Afghan border in North Waziristan, officials and local residents said.

The unmanned aircrafts fired two missiles at local resident Sikandar’s home in Tabbi Tolkhel, five kilometres east of Miranshah – headquarters of North Waziristan – killing at least three Taliban, sources close to the political administration said. The house was being used as a guesthouse for visiting Taliban operating across the border in Afghanistan, another security official said, according to AFP.

It was the second drone attack this month as the United States has stepped up drone attacks after a “double” al Qaeda agent killed seven CIA employees in a suicide attack in Afghanistan’s Khost province on December 30 last year. staff report /afp

Six Taliban fighters killed in Kurram Agency

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Daily Times, Pakistan, PESHAWAR:

Unknown assailants killed 6 Taliban fighters believed to be associates of Taliban commander Noor Jamal alias Maulana Toofan by ambushing their vehicle in central Kurram Agency on Wednesday.

Security forces sources have confirmed their deaths. The Taliban fighters were travelling to Alisherzai area of Kurram Agency. Out of the six, two belonged to Waziristan and one was from the Orakzai Agency.

Separately, Security forces have arrested nine suspected Taliban fighters from the Khyber Agency and cleared five caves used by terrorists in the Bajaur Agency, according to a Frontier Corps (FC) statement. FC personnel also defused an explosive device in the Yousaf Talab area of the Khyber Agency.

Also on Tuesday, security forces torched houses of Taliban fighters Shah Faisal, Abdur Rehman and Khudai Khan in the Bajaur Agency while terrorists Ghulam Ullah, Gulab, Abdul Ghaffar, Khan and Jaipur were arrested in tehsil Mamoond of Bajaur Agency.

It is worth mentioning here that the deadline for Taliban fighters to surrender will expire after four days. staff report/app

Dozens killed in two blasts in NW Pakistan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Feb. 18, 2010, (Xinhua) --

Dozens of people were killed and many others injured in two bomb blasts in northwest Pakistan's tribal area on Thursday.

At least 30 people were killed and 100 others injured in a suicide attack in Tirah valley of Khyber Agency tribal area, source told Xinhua.

The blast occurred near a mosque which is said to be a center of the banned Lashkar-e-Islam, a militant group in Khyber Agency. An important militant leader of the group has reportedly been killed in the blast.

Official sources said that the blast occurred when more than 150 people gathered to offer prayer in the mosque, which was damaged heavily in the blast. Death toll is feared to rise.

Sources said that two local militant groups Lashkar-e-Islam and Ansar-ul-Islam are actively involved in terror incidents in Khyber agency. They have also been engaged in targeting each others' members.

Sources said that the blast appeared to be related to rivalry between the two militant factions.

Locals are busy in rescue work and the injured have been taken to hospital.

Meanwhile, a bomb blast at a cattle market killed at least 26 people and wounded dozens of others in Pakistan's Orakzai tribal region where many Taliban militants are believed to hide, officials said.

Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani strongly condemned the bomb blasts. He deplored the loss of lives and directed the authorities to immediately provide best medical facilities to the injured. He also ordered an inquiry into the incidents.

10 killed in blast in Pakistan's Khyber area

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Feb. 18, 2010, (Xinhua) --

At least 10 people were killed and more than 50 others injured in a bomb blast in northwest Pakistan's tribal area on Thursday.

About 10 people were killed as a blast occurred in Akakhail area of Khyber Agency, local officials told Xinhua.

The blast took place in headquarters of the banned Lashkar-e- Islam, a militants group headed by Mangal Bagh, at Teera valley.

A key commander was reported to be killed in the explosion.

Nature of the blast has not so far been ascertained.

Rescue operations have been kicked off and those injured are being rushed to nearby hospitals.

Editor: Fang Yang