Pakistan Taliban chief's hometown surrounded(20 Oct 2009)

Advancing Pakistani troops on Monday (October 19) surrounded and were poised to storm the hometown of Tehreek-i-Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud in country's lawless tribal region as 78 Taliban terrorists and nine soldiers were killed in fierce fighting which entered the third day.

"Troops have encircled Kotkai, the home village of Hakimullah and his suicide attack trainer Qari Hussain, capturing key heights around it and the area is expected to fall anytime," Army officials said.

The Army pincers have also closed upon two other major towns, including Wana in the Taliban heartland. The security forces advance came as 18 terrorists and two soldiers were reported killed in the last 24 hours, raising the Taliban toll to 78.

"The last 24-hours 18 terrorists have been killed in various incidents and security forces losses are two dead and 12 injured," chief military spokesman Athar Abbas told a news conference. Army was aiming to "target and neutralise Taliban leadership in the ground and air offensive."

"The high level targets are the leadership and we will get them," Abbas said as Pakistani air force jets, helicopter gunships and heavy artillery pounded the Taliban positions on mountain tops.

The Army's advance has been slowed down by Taliban heavily mining the roads and strewing the entire area with roadside bombs, which they have successfully used against US and NATO forces in Afghanistan.

"After heavy fighting, a number of terrorists were killed and their positions captured," Abbas said.

The Taliban abandoned a 12.7mm anti-aircraft gun post without fighting while two ammunition dumps and as many anti-aircraft gun positions at Spin Ghara were destroyed. The Taliban too claimed to have inflicted casualties among the troops. None of the figures for casualties can be independently confirmed as authorities have cut off all access to South Waziristan and jammed all phone communications.

Abbas said security forces moving against the Taliban from a third direction after consolidating their positions in the south and southwest of Razmak in North Waziristan. In this area, a soldier was injured after troops were targeted with rockets fired from Makeen, a key stronghold of Hakimullah Mehsud's fighters.

Rebel ammunition dumps located in caves between Ladha and Makeen were destroyed by air strikes, he added. Abbas refused to set a timeframe for completing the operation in South Waziristan.

"The army has something in mind but I dont want to disclose it as it creates pressure on the armed forces. The operation is progressing well and we have secured areas and had successes ahead of our timeline," he said in response to a question.

The soldiers are facing an estimated 10,000 Taliban cadres, including about 1,000 foreign fighters, Abbas said. Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, who too addressed the news conference, said the government had never ruled out the possibility of a negotiated settlement.

"Pakistan Taliban chief's hometown surrounded(20 Oct 2009)" From IslamicPeaceAndLove

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