The people of Pakistan's north-western city of Peshawar have lived through countless bombings, shootings and kidnappings in recent years, but now a new peril stalks the streets – huge house rats.

Residents of the city, on the front line of Pakistan's battle against homegrown Taliban militants, say the rodents have eaten countless chickens, bitten dozens of adults, spread disease and even killed a baby.

Another rat bites the dust: Naseer Ahmad claims he has killed more than 100,000 rats in the last 18 months. Credit:AFP

But help is at hand in the stocky form of Naseer Ahmad.

Armed with a hoe, wheelbarrow and plastic gloves and accompanied by his three young daughters, the 40-something Ahmad is waging a dogged battle against the rats of Peshawar – and says he's killed more than 100,000 in the past 18 months.