Pakistani security officials said Thursday that a Taliban militant commander had been killed in a gunfight with government troops in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.
"Asmatullah Bhetani was killed in a gunfight with security forces in South Waziristan on the night between December 7 and 8," a senior security official said on condition of anonymity.
Another official confirmed Bhetani's death, saying there had been a reward of 10 million rupees (120,000 dollars) for his arrest.
He was killed in Sararogha, a militant stronghold in South Waziristan, where Pakistan carried out a major offensive to crush the Taliban's headquarters last year, the official said.
Bhetani was educated at a madrassa in the north-western town of Dera Ismail Khan, before opening a seminary himself and teaching, the official said.
"He was an important militant commander," the official said.
Bhetani was arrested twice in 2006, but released after negotiations with tribal elders.
Short link: