Pakistan troops kill two aides of Maulana Fazlullah

Two top militant commanders believed to be close aides of Swat Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah were killed during operations in the restive northwest Pakistan, even as troops consolidated their positions in the Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan.
   
Seven militants were also captured from the restive Swat valley in the country's northwest. Militant commanders Salman and Ayub, believed to be close aides of Maulana Fazlullah, the Taliban chief in Swat, were killed in Kabal sub-division, the army-run media centre said.
   
Security forces apprehended seven suspected militants during search and clearance operations at several places in Swat. Four militants also surrendered to the authorities, the military said.
In Waziristan, troops conducted search and clearance operations at several places in Jandola, Shakai and Razmak sectors and consolidated their positions.
     
They also recovered arms and ammunition and cleared over 100 militant-held compounds. In a separate incident, a key Taliban commander blew himself up late last night when police raided an area on the outskirts of Peshawar where he was hiding.
     
Six policemen were injured by the blast. The commander, identified only as Irfan, fired at police and then blew himself up with a grenade in Mattani area. Police also arrested seven suspects during the raid.
     
Local elders said Irfan was apparently planning to target a tribal jirga.