Pak Army inches closer to Mehsud heartland in Waziristan

Advancing Pakistani troops,on the third day of their offensive on Monday,surrounded the hometown of Tehreek-i-Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud...

Advancing Pakistani troops,on the third day of their offensive on Monday,surrounded the hometown of Tehreek-i-Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud in the countrys lawless tribal region. The security forces attacks came as 18 terrorists and two soldiers were reported killed in the last 24 hours,raising the Taliban toll to 78.

Troops have encircled Kotkai,the home village of Hakimullah and his suicide attack trainer Qari Hussain,capturing key heights around it and the area is expected to fall anytime, an Army official said. The Army pincers have also closed upon two other major towns,including Wana in the Taliban heartland.

Chief military spokesperson Athar Abbas told a news conference that the Army was aiming to target and neutralise Taliban leadership in the ground and air offensive. The Armys advance has been slowed down by Taliban heavily mining the roads and strewing the entire area with roadside bombs.

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 the Taliban. 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 offensive,in which Pakistani Army is reported to be deploying up to 30,000 troops,was progressing well. He said it would be premature (and) too early to comment on any success. Army has indicated the operation would last between six and eight weeks.

Abbas said a sprinkling of al-Qaeda were present in South Waziristan in the shape of financiers or trainers. He said,the Uzbeks have a very close linkage with al-Qaeda. So therefore the linkages of al-Qaeda are visible.

The Army used heavy artillery overnight to bombard militant positions at Wana,Serwakai,Jandola and Razmak,reports from Waziristan said. Combat jets have also been used to hit hideouts. The Taliban,for their part have,claimed they had inflicted heavy casualties on security forces.

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Meanwhile,visiting US Central Command chief Gen David Petraeus met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to discuss the operation. Gilani highlighted the Pakistan Armys sacrifices in the war on terror and said it has the support of the national political leadership in its military action.

Pak foils Karachi attack,arrests Taliban leader

KARACHI: Pakistani police on Monday claimed to have foiled a major terror attack the city and arrested a top Taliban leader and his associates,who were planning the assault. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistans Karachi unit chief Akhtar Zaman was arrested along with three accomplices Samiullah,Fazal Karim and Munnawar Khan, city police chief Waseem Ahmed said. He addedthat the police had recovered explosives weighing around 75 kgs,grenades and an anti-aircraft launcher that were supposed to be used in the attack. PTI