Pak helicopter gunships eliminate top Taliban leaders

Several top Taliban leaders were believed to be among 30 militants killed when Pakistani helicopter gunships bombed militants hideouts in the lawless Mohmand tribal region near the Afghan border on Friday.

At least 30 militants were killed and 15 others injured in the air strikes in Pandiali area of Mohmand Agency, sources close to the security forces said.

Two sons of top Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan commander Maulvi Faqir Muhammad were reportedly killed in the bombardment, the sources said.

However, a spokesman for the Frontier Corps declined to comment on reports about the killing of the militants.

Local political authorities confirmed that the militant hideouts were shelled but said they did not have details about the number of militants killed.

Sources close to the Taliban said the sons of Maulvi Faqir Muhammad and some militants from Bajaur were present in the Pandiali area at the time of the air strikes.

Reports on some TV news channels said Maulvi Faqir Muhammad and Qari Ziaur Rehman were also killed but the sources close to the Taliban said the presence of these commanders in the area could not be confirmed.