Pakistan claims military victory after 18 Taliban militants surrendered

The visiting Pakistani foreign minister has confirmed today here in Beijing that a top aide to a Pakistani Taliban commander have surrendered. Shah Mahmood Qureshi says Salar Mehsud made the move late on Sunday, after being targeted by a Pakistani military offensive.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi speaks with the  media in Kuala Lumpur in November, 2009. (AFP/File/Saeed Khan)

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Pakistani Foreign Minister, said, "It has restored confidence of the local people. And today the local population is supporting the military operation on our side of the border, and that makes a big difference."

Top Pakistan Taliban aide surrenders

Mehsud and 17 other militants gave themselves up to authorities in the Bajur Region, on the border with Afghanistan. He was a close aide of Bajur Taliban chief Faqir Mohammad.

Pakistani media reports said the two had recently fallen out and had begun fighting. Local government official Jamil Khan calls Mehsud's surrender the first by a Taliban commander since the military operation in the region began 18 months ago.