Islamabad: The Pakistan army said yesterday it was in full control of the home town of a top Taliban leader, calling the operation a "major success" in the seven-day-old air force backed operation in South Waziristan tribal region.
Military spokesman Major General Athar Abbas and Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, at a joint press briefing, did not say where Hakimullah Mehsud, leader of Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP), could be.
"The complete control of Kotkai, home town of Hakimullah Mehsud, is a major success. The whole offensive is progressing according to plan," Abbas said.
He said troops were on a steady advance, neutralising resistance and wresting control of mountain areas from the militants.
The spokesman vowed to "fight to the end" and asserted that the military had the resources for it.
Updating casualties, the spokesman said 21 more militants had been killed, taking the total number of TTP fighters killed in a week to 163.
Three more soldiers had died in fighting.
