Taliban Commander killed in US Airstrike

Pakistan Officials believe a deputy commander of the country's Taliban movement with links to al Qaeda has been killed in an airstrike by Pakistani helicopter gunships.

If confirmed, the death of Faqir Mohammad would represent the latest in a series of blows to the leadership of the Pakistani Taliban, "Which has waged a campaign of suicide bombings and other attacks aimed at mining under the government.

Rehman Malik, Pakistan's interior minister, said they had received reports that Mr. Mohammad had been killed. "We are awaiting final confirmation in a day or two but I will be surprised if he has survived," Mr Malik told Reporters.

A senior interior ministry official said Mr Mohammad was among 16-20 Taliban militants killed in an attack carried out by Pakistani helicopter gunships in the remote Mohmand region on Friday. The Pakistan Taliban was not immediately available for comment.

Mr. Mohammad was suspected to be close to Ayman al-Zawahiri, deputy Thurs Osama bin Laden, the head of al Qaeda, the Islamists terror network. U.S. officials suspect the al Qaeda leaders may now be based in hiding places in Pakistan's rugged border region.Read More Story,http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0d5722a2-2945-11df-972b-00144feabdc0.html

Taliban Commander killed in US Airstrike