(RTTNews) - The Pakistani military said on Friday its forces captured two strategically-important towns in South Waziristan from the Taliban, marking the start of a decisive phase of their three-week campaign to eliminate militants from their strongholds along the Afghan border.

Soldiers, who have been advancing into the militant heartland from three directions, entered the town of Makeen, the main militant stronghold and hometown of slain Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud.

The military claimed to have cleared a large part of Makeen and added that a search and clearance operation was on in the area.

Razmak and Makeen in the north of South Waziristan were the only major towns not in the control of the security forces.
BBC, quoting officials, said tanks, backed by ground troops, are now advancing into Ladha sub-division after securing Kaniguram.

If the military claims are credible, only a few areas are controlled by the militants, which are being relentlessly bombarded by jets, helicopter gunships and artillery.

But at the same time, the fact that the militants did not offer much resistance in regions known to be their safe havens indicate many of them might have escaped to the nearby tribal regions of North Waziristan, Kurrum and Khyber.

According to the military, 28 militants and five soldiers have been killed in the latest round of the operation, codenamed 'Path to Deliverance,' launched on October 17.

by RTT Staff Writer

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