Islamabad: The Pakistan military on Monday reported satisfactory progress after the first 60 hours of its ground and air offensive into the Taliban heartland of South Waziristan, claiming 78 militants had been killed so far.
The security forces suffered nine casualties and 35 soldiers were wounded, chief military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas told a media briefing.
Despite "stiff resistance" by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the rugged terrain, the operation "is going on satisfactorily," Abbas said.
As the operation continued, US Central Command chief General David H. Petraeus met civilian and military leadership in Pakistan, apparently to discuss the Waziristan push.
An official report said Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told Petraeus that the US should expedite the delayed payments of Pakistan's claims under the Coalition Support Fund and Foreign Military Funds.
This was necessary at the current critical juncture when the government was engaged in military action in South Waziristan, Gilani said.
