A new video appears to show a Pakistani Taliban commander, who was thought to be killed along the Pakistan-Afghan border, as alive and threatening new attacks.
News agencies obtained a copy of the undated video Thursday. It purportedly shows Maulana Fazlullah urging a group of followers described as suicide bombers to target Pakistan's government and security forces.
In May, Afghan officials said they were investigating reports the militant leader was killed in fighting along Afghanistan's border with Pakistan.
Fazlullah led the Taliban faction in Pakistan's northwestern Swat Valley until the army conducted operations there last year, forcing him and other militants to flee.
The hardline cleric was waging a violent campaign for Sharia law in the region.
Since the offensive in Swat, Pakistan's military has been targeting Taliban and al-Qaida-linked militants in the country's northwestern tribal region.
Officials say troops killed nearly 40 militants and destroyed three of their hideouts Thursday during air and ground strikes in the Orakzai tribal area.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP.
