Wanted Taliban commander killed in U.S drone strike in Pakistan

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One of the most wanted Pakistani Taliban commander was killed in a recent U.S. drone strike in the country's tribal area, local Urdu TV channel Geo reported on Monday.

According to the report, Ibne Amin, known for the training and indoctrination of suicide bombers and butchering rivals, was among the militants killed in Khyber Agency during a U.S. drone attack launched on Thursday.

Quoting security sources, the TV report said that several guards of Ibne Amin were also killed in the strikes in the Tirah valley of Khyber Agency.

Local media had put the death toll of Thursday's three drone strikes at 51.

A senior commander of the "Lashkar-e-Islam" or army of Islam group has also reportedly confirmed the death of Ibne Amin when missiles hit his vehicle.

Ibne Amin belonged to Matta area of Swat and the government in May 2009 had announced 15 million rupees as head money for him. He was a close lieutenant of Maulana Fazlullah, the leader of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Swat chapter, who is still at large.

Ibne Amin, who was less than 40 years old, became a feared TTP commander when he started torturing and killing opponents of the Taliban in Swat. He rose in the militant ranks and at one time it was said that he was the most powerful man in the TTP Swat after Fazlullah. One of his brothers was earlier killed in fighting with security forces.

According to intelligence sources, Ibne Amin also had links with al-Qaeda, the News daily reported in its website. The Khyber Agency has witnessed three U.S. drone attacks over the last four days in which about three dozens of militants from Lashkar-e-Islam and TTP were killed along with some civilians.

The Lashkar-e-Islam commander who broke the news about Ibne Amin's death said that Ibne Amin had been engaged in reconciliation efforts for the last several days to bring together the factions of Lashkar-e-Islam.

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