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Senior Fazlullah aide killed in Swat

* Nisar alias Ghazi Baba’s son arrested
* Troops kill five Taliban in valley
* 12 Taliban surrender to security forces

Staff Report

MINGORA: Security forces killed a senior aide to Swat Taliban leader Fazlullah on Wednesday as troops killed five Taliban in the valley in the ongoing military offensive in the valley, said military officials.

The officials told Daily Times that Nisar alias Ghazi Baba was killed in an “encounter” outside Mingora city. The military also arrested Nisar’s son – identified as Mushtaq Khan.

“After a tip from an informant, the forces surrounded the house of Nisar Ahmed to arrest him, but he resisted and started firing at the troops,” the AFP news agency quoted Major Mushtaq Khan, a spokesman for the army-run Swat Media Centre.

“During the retaliatory fire, Nisar was killed and his son was arrested,” he told AFP, adding that no soldiers were injured in the clash.

“During a search operation conducted by security forces, important Taliban commander Nisar alias Ghazi Baba from Matta tehsil was killed this morning,” said a statement by the ISPR, adding that Nisar was involved in Taliban activities in Peochar and Matta.

The pre-dawn operation in which Nisar was killed was launched in Matta town, some 25 kilometres northwest of Mingora. Several locals saw Nisar’s dead body, and confirmed that Fazlullah’s aide had been killed.

Nisar was one of 15 Swat Taliban commanders with a Rs 10 million bounty on their head.

Meanwhile, troops killed five Taliban in Swat.

Troops conducted a search operation in Mangazai Kandao near Miandam, killing five Taliban and arresting four others.

A local Taliban commander – identified only as Alamgir – was also arrested during a search operation in Bar Bamakhela.

Taliban surrender: Separately, seven Taliban surrendered to security forces in Mehak near Shah Dheri and Sarsanai, while five others surrendered in Manja near Tutan Banda.

Also, Taliban fired two mortar rounds and six rockets at the Kabutar Checkpost in Waziristan, injuring three soldiers.

The Pakistan Army launched an a blistering air and ground offensive in Swat after the Taliban marched out of the valley and advanced to within 100 kilometres of in April.

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