TTP terrorist Taha Swati confirmed killed in IBO

Security forces killed a most-wanted Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorist Ali Rehman alias Maulana Taha Swati along with seven others in an intelligence based operation (IBO) in the Tank district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, sources confirmed on Friday.

A source said that Swati was a close associate of TTP leader Mufti Fazlullah, as well as Qari Amjad alias Mufti Mazahim. Swati had joined the TTP in 2010 and he was an important leader in the TTP Shura, according to the source.

"On receiving information about the presence of Khawarij militants, the security forces conducted IBO in Tank district in the night between December 17 and 18," the source said, giving details of the IBO.

During the operation, a terrorist, who had disguised himself in woman's clothes, entered a house and took two children hostage, as he tried to use them as shield to escape. However, owing to a successful strategy, the terrorist was eliminated, while both the children were safely recovered, the sources said.

An explosive laden vehicle was also recovered from the terrorists. The sources said that the explosive material was likely to be used for a major terrorist attack. Meanwhile, the local people have lauded the army for the safe recovery of the children.

The killings of militants on the Pakistani soil on a daily basis reflected a strong alliance between the Khawarij and Afghan Taliban, which posed a serious threat to global and regional peace. Pakistan had repeatedly provided evidence to the Afghan government in this regard, but no action had been taken.