Pakistani Security Forces Kill Alleged Al-Qaida FacilitatorSecurity forces in Pakistan have killed a rebel tribal leader in an operation against al-Qaida-linked terror suspects in a remote mountainous region. Pakistani officials say that nearly 70 suspected terrorists have been killed in the area in less than two weeks.
Officials and witnesses say Nek Mohammad was killed, along with four associates, in a late night rocket attack near the Afghan border.
The military described the 27-year-old Mr. Mohammad as "an al-Qaida facilitator." He had been staying at a friend's house in a village in the South Waziristan tribal region.
"We had the information about presence of Nek Mohammad and his associates in this particular area, which was targeted last night, and it is believed that he is amongst those five killed," explained Major-General Shaukat Sultan, chief spokesman for the Pakistan army.
Mr. Mohammad was allegedly sheltering and protecting dozens of suspected foreign al-Qaida militants in the area. The Pakistani military has lately intensified efforts to flush out the foreign forces and their local supporters hiding in the mountains along the border.