Pakistan pounds Taliban commander's bases, 12 die
Friday, 14 August 2009
PARACHINAR, Aug 13 (AP): Pakistani helicopter gunships pummelled several bases of a key Taliban commander in the country's northwest Thursday, killing at least 12 insurgents, intelligence officials said.
The assault came as government forces ratchet up pressure on the northwestern militant network in the wake of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud's reported death in a CIA missile strike on August 5.
Military helicopters destroyed several bases and hideouts Thursday morning near the Kurram and Aurakzai tribal regions run by militant commander Hakimullah Mehsud, three intelligence officials said.
Hakimullah Mehsud is a clansman and top deputy to Baitullah Mehsud and is considered a possible successor as top Taliban leader.
The attacks were on bases in tribal areas near the Afghan border, about 100 kilometres north of the Mehsud clan's main base in south Waziristan.
Thursday's assault followed fierce clashes between fighters loyal to Baitullah Mehsud and those of a pro-government warlord, Turkistan Bitani, on the fringes of the South Waziristan region. At least 70 people were reported killed.
The assault came as government forces ratchet up pressure on the northwestern militant network in the wake of Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud's reported death in a CIA missile strike on August 5.
Military helicopters destroyed several bases and hideouts Thursday morning near the Kurram and Aurakzai tribal regions run by militant commander Hakimullah Mehsud, three intelligence officials said.
Hakimullah Mehsud is a clansman and top deputy to Baitullah Mehsud and is considered a possible successor as top Taliban leader.
The attacks were on bases in tribal areas near the Afghan border, about 100 kilometres north of the Mehsud clan's main base in south Waziristan.
Thursday's assault followed fierce clashes between fighters loyal to Baitullah Mehsud and those of a pro-government warlord, Turkistan Bitani, on the fringes of the South Waziristan region. At least 70 people were reported killed.