More than 45 insurgents have been killed and over a 100 Taliban fighters surrendered to the army in Pakistan's Swat valley. Troops are carrying out a search and clean-up operation across the Malakand division in the country's northwest province.
The Pakistan Army claims a total of 105 militants surrendered to the army in Kabal sub-division of Swat and eight of the fighters who surrendered were close aides to Swat Taliban Chief Maulana Fazlullah.
Brigadier Salman Akbar, who is heading the drive against the Taliban in the area, said the fate of the surrendered militants will be decided by the Islamic courts set up recently in Swat.
More than 150 dead bodies have been found in the region over the past month. Many accuse the army of killing suspected Taliban fighters extra-judicially after detaining them.
But the army has denied these accusations, suggesting locals may have taken revenge on militants for killing their relatives.
Pak Taliban commander Hakimullah killed?
Meanwhile, there are reports on Pakistan television of the new Taliban Commander Hakimullah Mehsud already dead and that the Taliban are giving the impressions that he is alive in order to save their image.
According to Dawn News Hakimullah Mehsud's look-alike brother was specially summoned from Afghanistan to head the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan on a temporary basis.
The report further says security forces also believe the Taliban declared Hakimullah Mehsud as their new chief to prove their top leadership is still alive.
Sources said the security forces are finalising preparations to launch a massive offensive against the Taliban in South Wazirisitan.
