Pakistan army close to taking key Taleban stronghold

Published on Friday 30 October 2009 23:43

PAKISTANI forces are closing in on a major Taleban base in the militant stronghold of South Waziristan. The army said last night it had killed 14 militants and two soldiers had died in a day of fighting.

The reported advances came as visiting United States secretary of state Hillary Clinton, in a series of public appearances, saw first-hand how angry many Pakistanis are about US military policies in the region.

Pakistan's military launched a ground offensive this month in the rugged, tribally controlled region where the Pakistani Taleban are based and are believed to shelter al-Qaeda leaders.

It has deployed about 30,000 troops against some 5,000 to 8,000 militants, a top general said on Thursday, during a rare visit to the battle area by journalists. His estimate included up to 1,500 foreign fighters, most of them Uzbeks.

The army says that 289 militants and 34 government soldiers have been killed in the offensive. Six militants have been arrested.

The army said it controlled the hills above the village of Sararogha, where Taleban leaders had long operated openly.

Mrs Clinton's arrival on Wednesday in Pakistan coincided with a market bombing in the north-western city of Peshawar that killed more than 100 people and underscored the threat to the nuclear-armed nation's stability.

Yesterday, her public meetings included one with residents from the tribal region and one with prominent women TV news anchors. Many attacked US military policies.

During a live interview, an audience member said drone aircraft attacks amounted to "executions without trial" for those killed.