Islamabad, October 18: The Pakistani Army says 60 militants have been killed in the first 24 hours of a major operation against the Taliban close to the Afghan border.
An Army statement said on Sunday that six soldiers had been killed over the same time period.
It was not possible to independently verify those figures because the Army prevents reporters from getting close to the battlefield.
Pakistani jets and artillery bombarded militant hideouts for a second day on Sunday, as ground forces moving in from three directions took control of two key areas in face of stiff resistance in the Taliban stronghold.
The Army yesterday launched a major offensive to “dismantle the network” of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and to flush out militants in South Waziristan who were responsible for 80 percent of recent terrorist attacks in the country, military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said.
Security forces have taken control of Spinkay Raghzai and Ghazai areas in South Waziristan following fierce fighting yesterday, even as militants offered “stiff resistance” at Shahwangi and Khesora areas, officials said.
Combat jets targeted militant positions in Ladha and Sarvakai, two key strongholds of the Taliban. Check posts have also been established in Kotkai area, where Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan chief Hakimullah Mehsud has his home.
However, the figures could not be verified as there was no official word on casualties and all access to South Waziristan has been cut off.
—Agencies