Swat violence: 14 Taliban, 3 securitymen killed

At least 14 militants and three security personnel, including an army major, were killed in fighting in Pakistan's volatile northwest on Monday, as the military faced fresh resistance in the Swat valley where they had claimed to have snuffed out the Taliban.

At least 14 militants and three security personnel, including an army major, were killed in fighting in Pakistan's volatile northwest on Monday, as the military faced fresh resistance in the Swat valley where they had claimed to have snuffed out the Taliban.

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In Swat's Matta area, a former Taliban stronghold where the militants have resurfaced over the past few days, a civilian employee of the police department was beheaded by the terrorists.

A major of the Pakistan Army and 12 militants were killed in an exchange of fire that erupted while security forces were conducting a search and clearance operation near Dardial in Swat, the military said.

At least two security personnel were killed and several others injured when a van of the Frontier Corps was attacked with a remote-controlled bomb near Bannu in the North West Frontier Province.

Some of the injured were in a critical condition, officials said. Police conducted a search after the attack and arrested 14 suspects.

Militant commanders Zarqavi and Zulqarnain were killed by security forces during a search operation near Bar Durshkhela in Swat in the past 24 hours. Two wanted militants were captured during a search and clearance operation at Talgai near Madyan.