Islamabad: A Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
commander and 60 militants surrendered to the security forces
while two rebels were killed in search and clearance
operations in troubled Malakand division in the NWFP, the
military said on Thursday.
Troops also captured eight suspects during the
operations in Swat and other parts of Malakand, the military
said in a statement. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan commander
Khurshid, described as a close ally of local Taliban chief
Fazlullah, surrendered with 60 rebels to officials in Saidu
Sharif, a key town in Swat.
Two militants were killed by troops during a search
operation at Kukarai in Swat. Security forces apprehended five
Afghan nationals in Charbagh, a former Taliban stronghold,
while three suspects were captured during routine checking at
Rashagatta.
Troops destroyed a militant training camp and
discovered a 20-foot-long cave made by the rebels in the Dir
area, which too is part of Malakand division.
The security forces are conducting search and
clearance operations in Malakand amidst the return of
thousands of people displaced by the operations against the
Taliban over the past three months.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, August 20, 2009, 22:59