Pak forces kill Al Qaeda operative in gunfight

‘‘It is yet another success of Pakistani intelligence fighting against terrorism,’’ Rashid said by phone from Amsterdam.

‘‘We will disclose the identity of his accomplices in few days. They are all Pakistanis and very important suspects,’’ added Rashid.

Farooqi, Pakistan’s most wanted terrorist with a 20 million Pakistani rupee ($330,000) bounty on his head, was killed in a gunfight with security forces in Nawabshah in southern Sindh province, a security official said.

The official said that the 30-year-old Farooqi and his accomplices put up ‘‘very strong’’ resistance, firing at security officials with automatic weapons from inside their hideout.

‘‘The raid was conducted on specific information that Farooqi was hiding in the area,’’ said the official.

Security forces surrounded the house in the rural town of Nawabshah, 270 km north of Karachi.

‘‘We challenged the inmates to surrender but they opened fire at the security officials, triggering a gunbattle which lasted more than two hours,’’ the security official said. — (PTI)