A US drone fired two missiles at a house in Pakistan's northwest tribal region Thursday, killing five suspected militants, intelligence officials said. The Taliban identified one of them as a prominent commander who has served as a key link to al-Qaida. The commander, Badar Mansoor, led a group of over 200 Pakistani Taliban fighters in the North Waziristan tribal area, the main sanctuary for militants in Pakistan, said a fellow insurgent. Pakistani intelligence officials could not confirm that Mansoor was one of the five suspected militants killed in the strike in the main bazaar in Miran Shah, the biggest town in North Waziristan. The intelligence officials and Taliban fighter spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. The strike was the second in as many days in North Waziristan, an indication the drone program is picking up steam again after a slowdown caused by tensions with Pakistan over accidental American airstrikes that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers last year. The US held off on carrying out drone strikes for over six weeks after the deadly accident on Nov. 26. There have been a handful of attacks since they resumed in January, but the last two are the first consecutive strikes since the border incident. Mansoor, the militant commander who was killed before dawn on Thursday, was from Pakistan's largest province, Punjab, and migrated to North Waziristan in 2008, said the Taliban fighter who reported his death. The 230 <b>...</b>

The banned Tehrek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants have claimed that they killed all the 15 Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel they had kidnapped two weeks earlier from Mullazai Fort situated near Tank city. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesperson Ahsanullah Ahsan said Thursday that the kidnapped FC men had been shot and their bodies dumped in the North Waziristan tribal region close to the Afghan border. Official sources have not confirmed the TTP spokesman's claim and said that army was investigating the matter. The kidnapped persons belonged to FC. On Dec 22, 2011, fighter of the TTP disguised in Frontier Constabulary uniform, armed with sophisticated weapons overrun Mullazai Fort manned by FC personnel, killing one personnel and kidnapped 15 others besides setting the fort on fire. Earlier, TTP spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack on FC Fort, saying a group of 30 militants took part in the attack. He said that the attack was carried out to 'avenge the death' of commander Taj Gul and several other militants. Spokesman also announced that kidnapped FC personnel would be cut into pieces and the pieces would be sent to the government. The kidnapped soldiers were identified as Sobedar Bawar Khan, Naib Sobedar Alia Mir, Halwadars Jan Afzal, Badshah Khan, Naik Zabtha Khan, Lance Naik Nisar Gul, soldiers Muhammad Aslam, Khan Talab, Shafiur Rehamna, Shakeel Gul, Talif Khan, Rahid Khan, Amjad Ali, Muhammad Arif, Ajeem Shah, Aziz Ali, and Rawanullah. Law <b>...</b>

(Reuters) - Afghanistan-based Pakistani Taliban leader Maulvi Fazlullah, a key figure in the insurgency, has vowed to return home to wage war as the country comes under renewed American pressure to tackle militancy. "We sacrificed our lives, left our homes and villages for the sake of sharia (Islamic Law) and will do whatever we can to get sharia implemented in the Malakand region and rest of Pakistan," Sirajuddin Ahmad, a close adviser, told Reuters, describing Fazlullah's position. He was answering written questions submitted by Reuters. The Taliban threat was issued as US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and top US military and intelligence leaders delivered a tough warning to Pakistan to crack down on militants, an issue heavily straining ties. Fazlullah was the Pakistani Taliban leader in Swat Valley, about 100 miles northwest of Islamabad, before a 2009 army offensive forced him to flee. Also known as FM Mullah for his fiery radio broadcasts, he regrouped in Afghanistan and established strongholds, and poses a threat to Pakistan once again, said army spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas. He is a prime example of the classic problem faced by Pakistan's military, one of the world's biggest. Militant leaders can simply melt away in the rugged mountainous frontier area in the face of army offensives. The Pakistani Taliban, which is separate from but aligned to the Afghan Taliban fighting foreign forces in Afghanistan, has declared war on the Pakistani state for <b>...</b>

Pakistan: Clashes Between Soldiers, Militants Claims Dozens Of Lives ... The Pakistani Taliban have killed thousands of people throughout the ... See Video Click videostreamonline.info to Watch full video for FREE

Waziristan, January 23: Deep in the hills of Pakistan's South Waziristan, these Pakistani Taliban recruits are being trained for suicide missions. An ally of the Afghan Taliban and al Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban is responsible for rising violence in South Asia. Waziristan region has served as a safe sanctuary for Islamist militants -- be it the Taliban, Haqqani Network or the al Qaeda. Analysts believe that many of these outfits including the LeT enjoy the patronage of Pakistan's spy agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence.

Pakistan's prime minister said today he will face the Supreme Court on Thursday to defend a decision not to pursue corruption charges against President Asif Ali Zardari. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani made the announcement to parliament after the high court issued a contempt charge against him. The political rift comes as a judicial panel is also looking into allegations that an official in Zardari's administration requested help from the US to fend off a possible coup attempt by Pakistan's powerful military. Meanwhile, in parts of Pakistan's tribal areas, music is starting to return. although once an integral part of weddings and other celebrations, the Taliban banned music in areas under their control. Following military operations that drove the Taliban out of Bajaur agency, some people are once again organizing and participating in music programs. FSRN's Rose Ketabchi reads for our reporter in Pakistan, Gabe Matthews. More at fsrn.org

The Taliban Terrorism leader is reportedly killed in Pakistan by drone. See video