Thirty two Taliban fighters have been reported killed during the latest round of fighting in the extremist-controlled Pakistani tribal agency of Bajaur. The Pakistani military speculated that Faqir Mohammed, the Taliban emir, or leader in Bajaur and the deputy leader of the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan, was killed in the fighting. Faqir is thought to have been killed or wounded while riding in a convoy that was transporting explosives near the town of Khar. Pakistani Army Cobra helicopter gunships targeted the convoy and killed between 10 and 12 Taliban fighters. The Pakistani military could not confirm his death, while Taliban spokesman Maulvi Omar denied Faqir was killed.
Twenty-two Taliban were reported killed in a separate attack after helicopter gunships struck a madrassa run by Mullah Munir. The Pakistani military appears to be relying on air and artillery strikes to target the Taliban after a large convoy of Frontier Corps paramilitaries were ambushed and routed earlier this week.