Sixty Taliban have been killed while five soldiers died and 11 others were injured in the 24 hours to Sunday afternoon in the security operations in the restive South Waziristan area along the border with Afghanistan, the military said
Fierce gunbattles were reported raging as Pakistani troops continued to inch deeper into the Taliban's heartland in Waziristan in the country's restive northwest, as a top US military General arrived here to discuss the operations with political and military leaders.
"We are closing in on the heartland of (slain Pakistani Taliban chief) Baitullah (Mehsud's) organisation in the area," Chief Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas claimed, acknowledging the presence of al Qaida militants in the area.
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Having code-named the campaign as 'Rah-e-Nijat' or 'Path to Salvation,' Abbas said Pakistan military was advancing on two axes from the southeast and southwest on Taliban's main defences in the region. "We are also blocking (routes) in the north so that they do not escape towards either North Waziristan or the border area (with Afghanistan)," Abbas said.
The Army continued the advance under the cover of a heavy artillery barrage and engaged rebels and foreign fighters linked to al Qaida in fierce gun battles. As the operation in which Pakistani Army is reported to be deploying up to 30,000 troops, entered its third day today, Abbas said it was "progressing well".
He said it would be "premature (and) too early to comment on any success or any victory". Army has indicated the operation would last between six and eight weeks, before deep winter sets in.
Sixty Taliban were killed while five soldiers died and 11 others were injured in the 24 hours to Sunday afternoon in the security operations , the military said.
An Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said on the Jandola-Kotkai-Sararogha axis, the area up to Mandana, Kund and Tarakai has been secured by the military.
Thirty terrorists were killed and many injured while two soldiers died and four others were injured in the operations.
On the Shakai-Kaniguram-Ladha Axis, the forces have progressed seven km north of Shakai and features like Boya Narai and Wuzi Sar have been captured. Fighting is going on around Sherwangi. Twenty terrorists ere killed and many injured. One soldier died and three were injured.
The security forces have also secured important features and tactical heights around and south of Razmak, killing 10 terrorists. In these operations, two soldiers died and four others, including two officers, were injured.
Six 12.7mm anti-aircraft gun positions of the terrorists have been destroyed in different areas and one 12.7 mm gun position was captured in the Wuzi Sar area. A large cache of improvised explosive devices and mines has been recovered, the ISPR statement said.
"A number of vehicles being used by the terrorists have been destroyed. Due to the security forces' advance, terrorists are vacating their posts leaving behind arms and ammunition," the statement said.
"Villages and hutments en route are being cleared by the security forces in search and clearance operations. Civilians are not being targeted; in some areas, people, including women, raised white flags; they were left off after being searched," the statement added.
DPA adds: Independent verification of the casualty figures is difficult as all telecommunications traffic from the region has been blocked and many journalists have left the war zone.
Government forces sealed off roads and imposed curfew in selected towns for safe movement of military convoys.
More than 28,000 soldiers backed by jets, helicopter gunships and artillery are taking on up to 10,000 Taliban militants, including an estimated 1,500 hardcore Al Qaeda fighters of Arab and Central Asian origin.
Guerrilla tactics and the rugged terrain will test Pakistan's capability to fight an unconventional war in extreme winter weather.
A security official said militants had planted mines and home-made bombs along roads and laid nails on tracks to impede the military's advance. Explosives were also said to be rigged to bridges.
Military strategists believe the operation could span up to eight weeks.
The UN said nearly 80,000 people had fled the conflict zone since May, while Pakistani officials fear the number of refugees might exceed 120,000.
The offensive is not the first time the Pakistani army is taking on the Taliban in South Waziristan, but earlier assaults largely failed to achieve their goals, with authorities grappling to reach peace deals to end the harsh fighting.
The US has been pressing Pakistan to dismantle the Taliban network in Waziristan, a known Al Qaeda sanctuary that is used to plan and launch deadly strikes on the Western forces in Afghanistan.
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