Islamabad: Two top commanders of the Pakistani Taliban blamed for several high-profile attacks were killed in a shootout with security forces at Nowshera in the country's restive northwest, officials said.
Police officials said security forces launched an operation after learning that Matiullah alias Commander Foji and his brother Latifullah alias Rehan Pahari had entered Nowshera area through a mountainous route.
Both commanders were killed during a gun battle, the officials said.
Matiullah was the commander of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan fighters in Peshawar and surrounding areas.
Police claimed the two commanders were planning to kill Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain.
The two slain militants were allegedly involved in several bomb attacks in Peshawar, Nowshera, Charsadda and Mardan and the killing of political leaders and security personnel.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, September 23, 2012, 23:29