Aziz was a former militant commander turned pro-freedom politician.

But security forces have killed one militant commander and captured several others, putting the underground groups on the defensive.

This included the house of a local militant commander named Naimatullah, who had occupied several government schools and converted them into seminaries.

January 2 - Maulvi Nazir, 37-38, Pakistani militant commander, drone strike.

At the time he was reportedly one of the top 10 most wanted militant commanders in Pakistan.

New insurgent attacks left at least five people dead, and the American military announced it had captured a top militant commander.

The militant commander later denied any involvement, but the bombings slowed.

Russian television showed footage of Muhannad's body on 22 April 2011, a common practice by Russian authorities following the successful liquidation of militant commanders.

The court said Afridi paid two million rupees ($21,000) to Lashkar-e-Islam and helped to provide medical assistance to militant commanders in Khyber.

Although the militant commanders later spoke of summarily executing the wounded French troops and capturing a female soldier, these claims were denied by the French government.