Top Taliban commanders wiped out in Swat: Malik

September 13th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Sunday that the Taliban commander in the northwestern Swat Valley was surrounded and would soon be captured. Faulana Fazlullah, supported by hundreds of fighters, rose in rebellion against the government in 2007 to enforce strict Taliban-like laws in Swat, a scenic mountain district 140 km from the capital city, Islamabad.

July 28th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Swat Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah aka Radio Mullah is injured and is hiding in the terrains of Peochar along with his close aides, Interior Advisor Rehman Malik has said. Malik claimed the security forces have surrounded Fazlullah and his accomplices, and that they would be arrested soon.

July 14th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that several top commanders of the Taliban have been killed and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Fazlullah was among those injured during the military operation in Swat and Malakand Division. "Our security forces have successfully contained the situation and targeted the extremist commanders.

July 2nd, 2009 RAWALPINDI - Top Taliban commander Mullah Fazlullah may have been killed in heavy shelling by the security forces, sources have said. Although the report could not be confirmed, sources in the security forces said that the troops had intercepted a phone call of Fazlullah.

June 27th, 2009 LAHORE - Governments in Pakistan's Punjab and Sindh provinces have been placed on terror alert amid fears that the Taliban could take refuge in the southern part of the country after fleeing from Waziristan and Swat. Interior Minister Rehman Malik disclosed that his department had recorded 1,148 terrorist threats during last four months.

June 23rd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - There seems to be an apparent lack of communication between the Pakistan government and the military, when it comes to determining the current status of Swat Taliban chief Mullah Fazalullah. While Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's Advisor on Interior Affairs, Rehman Malik has claimed that security forces have 'encircled' Fazalullah, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that it cannot 'confirm' reports about the status of the Taliban commander yet.

June 18th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan Army has reportedly claimed back some of the major strongholds of the Taliban, as it continued to pound the hideouts of the insurgents in Swat and Malakand. Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's Advisor on Interior Affairs, Rehman Malik said that the security forces have destroyed the Taliban's camps in several areas.

June 16th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Taliban is buying children for 500,000 to 2.5 million rupees to convert them into suicide bombers, and execute barbarous terrorist activities, Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik has revealed. Speaking at an award distribution ceremony, Malik said Pakistan is determined to continue the war against terrorism till the Taliban are flushed out of the country.

June 15th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's Advisor on Interior Affairs, Rehman Malik has said that military offensive in Malakand and Swat Valley would continue until the last terrorist is eliminated from the region by the security forces. Speaking at a police prize distribution ceremony here, Malik claimed that militants operating in the Pakistan were being funded with arms and money from Afghanistan.

June 5th, 2009 RAWALPINDI - Pakistan's Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani has said that the military had "decisively turned the tide" against the Taliban in Swat and adjoining districts. "The tide in Swat has decisively turned and major population centres and roads leading to the valley have been largely cleared of organised resistance by the Taliban," said General Kayani while addressing the 119th Corps Commanders' Conference at General Headquarters.

June 5th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Fazlullah may have been killed in the ongoing military operation in Swat. Malik said "it will soon become clear whether Fazlullah has been killed or not." A private TV channel quoted the Interior Minister as saying that the army would not be called back after the Swat operation concludes.

May 18th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that the Taliban have spent huge sums of money to lure youths to carry out suicide attacks in the country. He said: 'They (Taliban) bought youths from the poor families in half a million to 2.5 million rupees (about $30,802) for suicide attacks.' The Taliban want to weaken the country, Malik told reporters after visiting relief camps in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).

May 11th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - About 700 militants have so far been killed in the ongoing military operation in northern Pakistan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Monday, saying the operation would 'continue till elimination of the last terrorist'. Talking to media here after returning from the US, Malik said about '700 militants have been killed and 20 security personnel martyred' in the anti-Taliban offensive in Malakand division, the Daily New reported.

April 26th, 2009 Pakistani official warns Taliban must disarmISLAMABAD — Pakistan's top civilian security official says the Taliban in the northwest's Swat Valley must disarm or "face action." Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik made the comments Sunday after the military began an offensive against insurgents in a district next to Swat. The government agreed to a peace deal with the Swat militants earlier this year.

April 24th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Prime Minister's Interior Affairs Advisor Rehman Malik on Friday warned militants not to test the patience of the government. Malik further said the Talibanization should not only end in Mingora but also in every village of Pakistan.