Taliban ambush military convoy, shave off heads in NWFP

Islamabad, Apr 26:Amid global concern over Taliban's growing influence in Pakistan's NWFP, militants today ambushed a military convoy killing a soldier in Dir district of the province and shaved off heads and moustaches of four men as a "punishment" for listening to music in Buner.

The incidents came amid reports that some of the heavily armed Taliban are still present in Buner, notwithstanding their promise to withdraw completely from the strategic area, located 100 kms from the federal capital.

A soldier was killed and five others, including a major were injured when Taliban militants attacked a convoy of security forces in the North West Frontier Province, even as the hardline group that mediated the Swat peace accord sought general amnesty for the Taliban in the valley.

About 10 per cent of the hundreds of Taliban who came to Buner from Swat are still present in the area while the local Taliban from the district are patrolling some parts of the district, Geo News channel reported, a day after they announced withdrawal from the area, 100 km from Islamabad.

Meanwhile, local militants in the Buner district shaved off the heads and moustaches of four men as a punishment for listening to music, the Dawn reported.

Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan had yesterday claimed that all the militants from Swat had withdrawn from Buner. He also said the local Taliban of Buner would remain in the area. PTI