PESHAWAR/ORAKZAI AGENCY - A senior commander of Haqqani Network was killed in a gunbattle with the security forces on the night between Thursday and Friday, BBC reported, quoting sources. At least nine other militants were arrested after the clash.
The sources said that the forces killed Farooq Zadran in the border area of North Waziristan Agency, where the Army has been battling Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and other local and foreign militants since June last year in its campaign against violent extremism.
An official seeking anonymity said that a convoy of security forces was on its way when it encountered a group of militants. The militants tried to run away but the forces chased them and managed to kill Farooq Zadran and arrest his accomplices. However, the militant group has not yet given any reaction to the incident.
Haqqani Network has claimed responsibility for many deadly attacks against the US and other foreign forces stationed in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, at least eight militants were killed and three hideouts destroyed after gunship helicopters pounded their positions in central tehsil of Orakzai Agency on Friday.
According to details, the gunship helicopters of security forces pounded militants’ hideouts in Olmat, Sheikhan, Kasha and Babu Tang Kali areas. The shelling started at around 12 noon.
Official sources said at least eight militants were killed and their three hideouts completely destroyed by shelling. The sources said the ground operation had been launched in the area after aerial strikes.
In central tehsil of Orakzai Agency, the security forces are advancing in the last six days of offensive and dozens of militants, including some key commanders, have been killed, their hideouts destroyed and arms recovered.
The forces have recaptured and cleared more than 90 percent area of the tribal areas and have also destroyed hundreds of hideouts, including bomb-making factories and command and control centres of terrorists in the tribal areas.
Pakistan Army launched Zarb-e-Azb operation against militants on June 15 last in tribal areas. The operation was launched after a deadly attack on the country’s busiest airport, Karachi, on June 8, 2014, in which at least 40 people, including 10 terrorists, had been killed.
SECURITY CONVOY NARROWLY ESCAPES BOMB ATTACK
A convoy of security forces narrowly escaped in a bomb attack when an improvised explosive device exploded on Ring Road in Peshawar Friday morning. Sources said that the incident occurred near Achini Bala area on ring road. The bomb was apparently planted to target convoy of security forces which was passing the area. The device exploded with a big bang however no casualties were reported. Soon after the incident large number of police rushed to the site and cordoned off the area. According to bomb disposal squad around 25 kilogram explosives were used in the attack.
IS PAK CHIEF KILLED WHILE PLANTING BOMB
Islamic State's Pakistan chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed was killed when a roadside bomb he was planting went off in the country's restive northwest tribal region, according to a media report.
Saeed along with two of his accomplices were killed on Thursday when the bomb they were planting exploded in Toor Dara area of Tirah Valley in the Khyber tribal region.
The security forces claimed one of the men killed in bombing was the Pakistan IS chief, the report said. However, there was no confirmation from the militant group.
Saeed hailed from the Aurakzai Agency and was among five leading Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) commanders who announced their disassociation from the banned outfit last October.
The group had joined the IS under the leadership of Shahidullah Shahid, a former spokesman of the TTP.
The IS high-command through a message last year had declared Saeed as the IS chief for Pakistan.