Pakistan army runs into stiff resistance from Taliban in South Waziristan

Islamabad: The Pakistan army said on Sunday that it had killed 60 militants and lost five soldiers in the ongoing full scale ground offensive to crush the Taliban network in South Waziristan tribal region in the North West Frontier Province.

About 100,000 civilians have fled South Waziristan in anticipation of the offensive, with up to 16,000 coming out in the last few days, the army said. Most are staying with friends.

Fighters of the banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) headed by Hakimullah Mehsud were putting up stiff resistance to the troops who were being supported by military jets and helicopter gunships.

In its first statement since the start of the three-pronged thrust towards the main centres of the militants in the rugged terrain of South Waziristan, the army said the advancing troops had seized substantial caches of weapons and ammunition.

Aerial attacks

The statement said three places had been secured by the troops after fighting, while security sources noted satisfactory progress in the first two days of the operation, preceded by regular bombing runs by jets to weaken the defences of the militants.

No time limit has been given officially for the completion of the operation involving tens of thousands of troops, which has been codenamed "Rah-e-Nijat" or ‘path of deliverance' from the scourge of terrorism.

A Taliban spokesman said the army was being repulsed and he vowed attacks on supporters of US President Barack Obama.

"They're trying to enter our land from all sides but we've repulsed their assault and they've suffered heavy losses," spokesman Azam Tariq told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location. One Taliban had been killed and three wounded, he said.

"The government has put the country's sovereignty at stake to please Obama ... we'll attack his well-wishers everywhere."

Military and government sources expect the main operation may be concluded in a matter of weeks, amid the prevalent climate of nationwide public and political support to the security forces mission. With the harsh winter weather in sight, military sources emphasise the need to finish the job quickly.