Pakistan Taliban confirm death of senior commander
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Jan. 14, IRNA -- Pakistani Taliban have confirmed the death of its top commander, Ibne Amin, in a US drone strike in a tribal region last month.
Ibne Amin, known for the training and indoctrination of suicide bombers and butchering rivals, was among the militants killed in Khyber Agency in a US strike.
Taliban deputy chief, Maulavi Faqir Mohammad, said that Ibne Amin, who carried ten million rupees on his head, was killed in the strike on December 17.
Quoting security sources, the TV report said that several guards of Ibne Amin were also killed in the strikes in the Tirah valley of Khyber Agency.
Ibne Amin belonged to Matta area of Swat valley and the government in May 2009 had announced ten million rupees as head money for him.
He was a close lieutenant of Maulana Fazlullah, the leader of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Swat chapter, who is still at large.
Ibne Amin, who was less than 40 years old, became a feared TTP commander when he started torturing and killing opponents of the Taliban in Swat.
He rose in the militant ranks and at one time it was said that he was the most powerful man in the TTP Swat after Fazlullah. One of his brothers was earlier killed in fighting with security forces.
According to intelligence sources, Ibne Amin also had links with al-Qaeda.
Ibne Amin had been engaged in reconciliation efforts among the militant groups in Khyber agency.
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