Pakistani security officials have confirmed that terrorist outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) master trainer of suicide bombers alongwith other top militants and foreign fighters of the group were killed in recently air strikes in North Waziristan Agency.

Islamabad, Jan 23/Nationalturk – Pakistani security officials have confirmed that terrorist outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) master trainer of suicide bombers alongwith other top militants and foreign fighters of the group were killed in recently air strikes in North Waziristan Agency while army chief General Raheel Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met today to discuss anti-terror strategy.

“Senior TTP commanders including the head of the Supreme Shura Asmat Shaheen Bittani and Wali Mohammad, successor to the group’s leader Qari Hussain, known as a key trainer of suicide bombers were killed in air strikes on Monday night in North Waziristan,” a security official was quoted as saying by Pakistan newspaper Express Tribune.

Bittani had briefly led TTP as its interim chief following killing of Hakimullah Mehsud in US drone strike in November last year.

“Maulvi Farhad Uzbek, head of al Qaeda-linked foreign fighters in the tribal region was also killed in the air strikes. He was successor to Qari Tahir Yeldashive, leader of al Qaeda-linked Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, who was killed in a drone strike in 2009,” the security official said.

He said among the dead militants included 33 Uzbeks and 3 Germans.

The air strikes targeted TTP hideouts in Mir Ali and Miranshah areas in North Wazirstan and were the first since 2007 ceasefire pact with militants.

‘Military offence is retaliation, not operation’

Pakistan’s Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Hussain has termed the military offensive launched in the North Waziristan Agency as ‘retaliation’, saying that it should not be seen as an ‘operation’.

“A decision to retaliate following the attacks on security forces was taken jointly by the government and army. The decision to choose between talks and crackdown will be made soon. The contact had been made with six prominent militant groups. There are 60 groups which also include foreign elements,” he said.

In a related development,  Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif today called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the Prime Minister House to discuss national security and anti-terror strategy.

The meeting is seen as a significant as it comes after recent aerial bombing of miltant hide-outs in North Waziristan.

‘Maulana Haq not assigned any peace mission’

Pakistan PM’s office also issued a statement today saying Nawaz had not assigned Maulana Samiul Haq any mission pertaining to peace talks with Taliban.

In a statement, the spokesperson said the impression given by Maulana Samiul Haq that government did not listen to him was incorrect.

“Maulana’s cooperation and his influence for elimination of terrorism had come under discussion at a meeting with PM Nawaz Sharif last month.  Maulana had not reported any progress despite passage of three weeks after the meeting with the premier,” he said.

On Wednesday, Maulana Samiul Haq had distanced himself from dialogue process with the Taliban  after military strikes in North Waziristan.

Haq, however, like other Pakistani religious leaders and politicians does not favour military action against TTP, who are killing civilians and security men in blasts and suicide bombings across Pakistan.

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Asia News/ NationalTurk Pakistan News