Islamabad, August 18: Thirty-four militants, including a member of the Taliban council, were captured by Pakistani security forces and local militias while another 10 insurgents surrendered to troops in the country’s lawless tribal region, the military said today.
Security forces apprehended 20 suspects during a search operation at Malukabad in Swat valley, it said in a statement.
Four suspects were captured by troops during a search at different locations in Kanju, a former Taliban stronghold.
Three more militants were apprehended in Khazana and Gamkot while three militants were captured during a search operation near Charbagh.
Mian Said Ahmed, a militant who was a member of the Taliban ‘shura’ or council, was apprehended by troops near Shadand Banda. Ten militants surrendered to a ‘lashkar’ or tribal militia near Derai, also in Swat.
In Dir district, which too is part of the Malakand division, security forces apprehended three suspects, including militant commander Mukharram Khan.
Pakistani security agencies scored significant successes in their drive against the local Taliban in other parts of the country by arresting militant commander Saifullah along with an aide on the outskirts of Islamabad and militant spokesman Maulvi Omar with two accomplices in the Mohmand tribal region yesterday.
—Agencies