September 08, 2008	Monday	Ramazan 07, 1429

KHAR, Sept 7: Taliban commander Maulvi Faqir Mohammad, who was supposed to have been killed during a recent military operation, unexpectedly reappeared in Bajaur Agency on Sunday.

The militant leader addressed his supporters in Inayet Kali, some 10 kilometres from here. A large number of people and militants attended the meeting.

On the occasion, Maulvi Faqir vowed to continue ‘jihad’ against America and its allies, and warned the government to stop the military operation in Bajaur and other parts of the tribal region.

The militant leader claimed that the Taliban had succeeded in the ongoing military operation, claiming that they had captured all checkposts.

When the Taliban leader was addressing the meeting in the area, security forces reportedly fired several mortar shells which created panic among the people of the area.

Meanwhile, five people including two sons of a Taliban commander were killed on Sunday when security forces bombed suspected locations in different areas of Bajaur Agency.

According to sources, the sons of militant commander Ali Rehman were killed during bombing who were present inside a compound. Paramilitary forces used artillery and targeted suspected positions in Mullah Sayed, Darra Banda, Baddan and Erab in Mamond tehsil, considered a stronghold of the militants.

Locals said that security forces used artillery and mortars which hit several houses in Salarzai and Mamond areas on Saturday night and Sunday. The house of a local militant commander was also destroyed.

Three people were killed in artillery firing, but their names could not be ascertained immediately. Several families vacated their houses and moved to safer places due to heavy shelling, they added.

In the meantime, unidentified persons blew up a branch office of the Pakistan Post in Lowi Sam area on Saturday night. No casualty was reported.

The political authorities have imposed curfew in certain areas of Khar from 7am to 5pm. All business centres and educational institutions in the area remained closed. Residents complained about shortage of edible items.

The situation in other parts of the volatile region remained normal.

The military operation against militants in the region was launched on August 6 but was suspended due to Ramazan. The operation left scores of people dead and thousands of families displaced.