Peshawar, Dec 3 : Pakistani security forces have taken control of another important town in the troubled Bajaur tribal region while 21 people, including 14 militants, were killed in an air strike in the adjacent Mohmand tribal region on Wednesday, officials said.

Officials and local people said that troops backed by tanks and armored personnel carriers’ secured Nawagai town, some 30 kilometers northwest of Khar near the Afghan border.

Local people welcomed the troops and hoisted white flags on their rooftops, Dawn reported.

Peshawar, Dec. 3 : The North West Frontier Province Government in Pakistan has asked the federal government to take decisive action against a Taliban build-up in Jamrud.

The Daily Times quoted a senior official as warning that there could be Iraq-like situation in the area in the coming few months, if the deteriorating law and order situation was not tackled firmly in Jamrud, and the Khyber and Mohmand agencies.

He said a high-level meeting was held in the provincial capital two days ago to discuss the situation emerging in Jamrud tehsil and on the outskirts of Peshawar.

Peshawar, Nov 28: Rifts seem to be appearing in the ranks of the Pakistan unit of the Taliban, the Tehrek-e-Taliban (TTP), as one of the rival factions that the group led by Baitullah Mehsud was “misusing Islam to prolong its terror reign”. It branded the TTP chief’s activities as “militancy”.

Commander Qari Zainuddin Mehsud, who is loyal to slain Taliban leader Abdullah Mehsud, said this.

In pamphlets written in Urdu and distributed in Tank city on Thursday, Zainuddin Mehsud, chief of the Abdullah Mehsud group, charged Baitullah with the killings of ‘jihadi leaders’.

Peshawar, Nov 27: The Pakistan unit of the Taliban, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is planning to target Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and his allies for their ‘pro-American’ stance, said a regional commander of the terror outfit.

Hakeemullah Mehsud, deputy of TTP leader Baitullah Mehsud, accused the ANP (Awami National Party), PPP (Pakistan Peoples’ Party) and MQM (Muttahida Qaumi Movement) of “working to break up Pakistan in collaboration with the US”, reported the Daily Times.

Peshawar, Nov 26 : NWFP police chief has reportedly said that a group of Afghan and local criminal gangs were helping the Pakistan’s unit of the Taliban, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), using Peshawar as a ‘resource generation point’ for the terror organization.

“The Taliban are using Khyber Agency as base and Peshawar as the resource generation point,” the Daily Times quoted NWFP Inspector General of Police Malik Naveed Khan as saying.

Peshawar, Nov 25: Security forces in NWFP claimed to have pushed the Taliban operatives out of Peshawar after two-week long operation in the area killing at least 25 suspected Taliban.

NWFP capital Peshawar is said to be a vital hub for military and relief efforts in the Tribal Areas and lies on a supply route for foreign troops fighting in Afghanistan.

Security forces backed by warplanes and artillery have swept through the region between Peshawar and the Tribal Areas, the Daily Times quoted security officials while addressing media persons last evening.