Ex-Fighter for Taliban Dies in Strike in Pakistan
A 27-year-old former Taliban fighter who recently embarrassed the Pakistani Army and became one of the country’s best-known and most-wanted militants was killed in a missile strike on Thursday night, Pakistani military officials said. Local residents said they believed that a missile fired from an American drone killed the militant, Nek Muhammad, after he spoke over a satellite phone. But Pakistani military officials denied any American involvement. Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan, the chief spokesman for the Pakistani military, said Friday that Pakistani forces had been tracking Mr. Muhammad for several days. The general declined to say exactly how Mr. Muhammad was killed, but said Pakistani helicopters and artillery were both capable of striking a compound with pinpoint accuracy. He said reports of American involvement were “absolutely absurd.”Full Story