Pakistani jets and artillery pounded Taliban bases for the second day today, killing 60 militants in the lawless Waziristan region as ground forces continued their push into the strongholds of the Taliban and captured two key towns from them, despite stiff resistance.
Five soldiers were also killed and 11 more injured in clashes that erupted yesterday after thousands of troops began advancing from three directions towards areas inhabited by the Mehsud tribe, considered the main base of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan led by Hakimullah Mehsud. The Inter-Services Public Relations said 60 militants had been killed over the past 24 hours during “Operation Rah-e-Nijat” (Path to Salvation), the codename for the offensive in South Waziristan.
TV news channels reported that jets targeted militant positions in Ladha and Sarvakai, two key strongholds of the Taliban.
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