Peshawar/Islamabad: The former interim chief of the Pakistani Taliban was among 50 militants, including 36 foreign fighters, killed in heavy air strikes in the lawless North Waziristan region, military sources said today.
The Pakistan Air Force jets had bombed suspected militant hideouts in North Waziristan - a key haven for Taliban and al Qaeda elements - on Monday night, which was backed by army gunship helicopters.
At least 50 militants were killed in the attack. “Most of the terrorists killed in North Waziristan strikes on night of January 20/21 are foreign fighters which include 33 Uzbeks, three Germans and reportedly important terrorist commanders,” a Pakistani military source said.
He named the militant commanders as “Wali Mohammad (predecessor of Qari Hussain), Asmat Shahin Bittani, Noor Badshah and Maulvi Farhad Uzbek”.
Bhittani served as the acting TTP chief after the killing of Hakeemullah Mehsud and also headed the Taliban supreme shura (decision-making council).
