Pakistan’s Army pushed deeper into a Taliban sanctuary near the Afghan border on Tuesday, claiming to have killed 42 militants in the latest stage of an offensive against the extremists.

In the capital, gunmen attacked a high-ranking Pakistani Army officer, Brigadier Waqar Ahmed, in the second targeted shooting against top military brass in less than a week, part of a wave of violence sweeping the country in apparent retaliation for the 11-day long offensive in South Waziristan. Ahmed and his mother, who was traveling with him, escaped unhurt from the assault in Islamabad.

The fight in South Waziristan is seen as a major test of Pakistan’s will and ability to tackle the northwestern strongholds of al-Qaeda-allied extremists that have festered for years, largely untroubled by ground assault.

An Army statement said troops were progressing well on three fronts in South Waziristan, but were meeting resistance. It said that over the last 24 hours, at least 42 militants and one soldier had been killed.

Independent verification of army claims in the region is difficult because the military has blocked access for journalists and humanitarian workers.

On Tuesday in Islamabad, gunmen attacked an Army Brigadier as he was driving to a bank in a residential area. Muhammad Imran, who runs a business nearby, said he saw a young man take out a weapon from beneath his shawl and unleash a hail of bullets as the car slowed down for a speed bump. “He was firing relentlessly. He was targeting the front seat of the car,” Imran said. Another young man on a motorcycle then appeared and the two sped away. Police said the officer was not in uniform but was driving a government car, bearing an Army insignia.

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