Top Taliban commander slips from Pak security forces' dragnet in NWFP

Islamabad, Apr.1 (ANI): A top Pakistani Taliban commander, Mullah Toofan, escaped from the clutches of security forces in the restive North West Frontier Province's (NWFP) Orakzai region, as troops continued their offensive against extremists in which over 18 militants have been killed since Tuesday.

Toofan is said to be in command of the Taliban in the Orakzai agency, Xinhua reports.

Pakistani forces assisted by helicopter gunships have intensified their operation in the region in the recent past.

On Wednesday, a top extremist commander, Ziaur Rehman, was killed in a shootout between two different tribes in the region.

Pakistani security forces claim to have killed over 200 extremists in the ongoing operation in Orakzai agency, where most of militants have fled the region and shifted their base to other eighbouring areas. (ANI)