South Korea's intelligence chief has refused to deny that his government paid a ransom to the Taleban to release 19 hostages last week.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has told more than 600 Afghan and Pakistani tribal leaders they must cooperate against Taleban and al Qaida fighters.

Banda check-post near Miranshah in Northern Waziristan was attacked with rockets and automatic weapens, but 18 attackers were killed and their vehicle was damaged in a counter attack by the security forces. According to the sources, armed persons attacked the Banda check-post, five km from Miranshah, and wounded two soldiers of security forces.

A reporter embeds with the Taleban to see the brutal evidence of war in Greshk.

Will the insurgent movement be crippled or energised by the killing of their battlefield leader, Mullah Dadullah?

From roadside bombs to suicide attacks, northern regions are seeing the same tactics the Taleban employ in the south.