 Pakistani security forces Monday claimed killing alleged guard of leading Al-Qaeda figure, Tahir Yuldashev, in North Waziristan tribal agency, bordering Afghanistan, as latest spate of violence claimed six casualties, said security sources. Late Sunday, suspected Islamic militants fired several rockets on a military checkpost on Till Mir Ali road near Mir Ali village, where forces were engaged in an operation, security sources told KUNA.
They said militants encircled the checkpost at the time when troops were asleep. Sources said there was heavy exchange of fire and forces also used fired mortar and shells. They added that more than three hour long exchange of fire killed at least four militants. They said rest of the militants fled and that forces could hold of only one militant. Sources said according to initial investigative reports, the dead militant has been identified as Abdul Rehman, a Spaniard. They said he is suspected guard of Tahir Yuldashev, a leading Al-Qaeda figure.
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6 militants killed in attack on military
 Six militants were killed in an attack on a military checkpoint on Monday. The insurgents were among a group of up to 30 who on Sunday surrounded the Zara Mela checkpost in North Waziristan.
| That seems to have worked well... |
âSix of them were killed when soldiers returned fire, but they managed to escape with five bodies,â said a military official. Security forces killed around 60 to 70 militants, including 35 foreigners and a senior Al Qaeda leader from Chechnya, during an operation in the Khatti Kalli village in North Waziristan last week, military sources told Daily Times. Uzbek militant Qari Tahir Yuldeshevâs lieutenant nicknamed âChamakâ from Chechnya was killed in the operation on Saturday, sources said speaking on the condition of anonymity. âChamak was the commander of militants from Central Asian states â Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Chechnya,â they added. Sources said that Chamak received multiple bullet injuries on October 1 and was shifted to the compound of Haji Malik Muhammad Alam in Machikhel, about 12 kilometres northeast of Mir Ali town, in critical condition for treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries.
"Rosebud!"
"He's dead, Jim!" |
âThere are three close associates of Tahir Yuldeshev â local cleric Maulana Sadiq Noor provides him with logistic support in North Waziristan, Malik Khandan is the Uzbek leaderâs commander in Afghanistan, while Chamak commanded the foreign militants in North Waziristan,â sources said. Information about the militants killed in the operation was gathered through the local population. âMilitants do not leave bodies behind. They retrieve and bury them quickly,â they said.
"Mahmoud! Hurry with that shovel! He's startin' to stink!"
"He smelled that way before he was dead!" |
âFive militants killed on September 30 were buried in a single grave in Khatti Kalli village whereas another eight militants killed on October 1 were buried at four different places in Machikhel,â said the sources. However, they added that the alleged âAl Qaeda facilitator in North Waziristanâ, Maulana Sadiq Noor and his deputy Malik Khandan, escaped during the operation.
| "Curly-toed slippers, don't fail us now!" |
Sources said that the security forces demolished Noorâs hideout on Sunday after evacuating the women and children living inside the compound. Tribal sources in Miranshah told Daily Times that the militants suffered heavy casualties in the search operation in which gunship helicopters and fighter jets were used. Meanwhile, a tribal jirga pledged conditional support to the government, asking the army to involve the political administration and tribal elders whenever a military operation was planned.
"Yeah, just give our military operations coordinator a call!"
"Who's that?"
"Mahmoud the Weasel." |
The jirga also demanded a ceasefire from the army during Ramazan, tribal Senator Mateen Shah told Daily Times by phone from Miranshah. He said that resistance to Khatti Kalli operation was an âaccidentâ due to a âmisunderstandingâ. |