Pakistani army fights street battles in S Waziristan

Wed Nov 4, 2009

Pakistani military says its troops have engaged in street-to-street fighting with pro-Taliban militants in a strategic town in the lawless tribal South Waziristan region.

"Today the security forces advanced into the stronghold of militants, the town of Ladha, amidst heavy clashes and street to street fighting," an army statement said Wednesday.

The Pakistani troops besieged Ladha after days of intense fighting in the volatile area that borders Afghanistan.

The town is considered a major terror stronghold and an important base for the militants and the "operational center" of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Military sources said at least 30 militants have been killed in heavy clashes across the troubled region over past 24 hours.

About 400 militants and 37 soldiers have so far been killed since the operation was launched in the mountainous terrain on October 17.

Thousands have been killed in the bloody campaign across Pakistan over the past two years, as the death toll is expected to rise during the government offensive.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/110468.html.