Swat Taliban deputy commander's death 'unconfirmed': NWFP minister

Peshawar, June26 (ANI): The North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Information Minister Iftikhar Hussain has said that reports about the death of Taliban Swat chapter deputy leader, Shah Durran, had not been confirmed yet.

"We've heard reports of Shah Durran's death, and his consequent funeral and burial, but we cannot officially confirm it unless we have concrete evidence," Hussain said.

Hussain also said that there were unconfirmed reports that the Taliban chief Maulana Fazlullah and the banned outfit's spokesman, Muslim Khan, were killed in the military offensive.

He, however, said that the government was still trying to ascertain the truth behind the reports.

Hussain claimed that over 80 percent of Buner has been re-captured by the security forces, but added that the extremists were still offering stiff resistance to the military in certain areas of Chagarzai, Gagara, and Daggar.

Earlier, Hussain had said that Durran had been killed in the military offensive in Swat, and two senior Taliban commanders had sustained injuries.

Hussain also claimed that the security officials were searching for the body of Durran, who has reportedly been buried by his associates. (ANI)