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| Key Pakistan Taliban town 'falls' | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Pakistani forces have captured the strategically important town of Ladha from the Taliban in ongoing clashes in South Waziristan, officials say. | Pakistani forces have captured the strategically important town of Ladha from the Taliban in ongoing clashes in South Waziristan, officials say. |
| According to the military, 28 militants and five soldiers have been killed in battles over the last 24 hours. | According to the military, 28 militants and five soldiers have been killed in battles over the last 24 hours. |
| The army went on the offensive in South Waziristan on 17 October to root out militants behind a wave of bombings. | The army went on the offensive in South Waziristan on 17 October to root out militants behind a wave of bombings. |
| The latest fighting took place as gunmen wounded an army brigadier in a drive-by shooting in the capital. | The latest fighting took place as gunmen wounded an army brigadier in a drive-by shooting in the capital. |
| There has been no independent verification of the military's latest reported gains as journalists are not allowed into the area except on occasional trips organised by the military. | |
| 'Little resistance' | 'Little resistance' |
| The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says that the military has made significant gains in its campaign in South Waziristan so far - and across the country there seems to be a consensus that the operation is the right option at the moment. | The BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad says that the military has made significant gains in its campaign in South Waziristan so far - and across the country there seems to be a consensus that the operation is the right option at the moment. |
| The army began its offensive in South Waziristan on 17 October | The army began its offensive in South Waziristan on 17 October |
| Our correspondent says that the military's confidence is not without basis - despite a wave of militant attacks that has killed hundreds in recent weeks, most Pakistanis remain firmly behind the operation in South Waziristan. | Our correspondent says that the military's confidence is not without basis - despite a wave of militant attacks that has killed hundreds in recent weeks, most Pakistanis remain firmly behind the operation in South Waziristan. |
| The military says that it has advanced into the militant heartland from three directions and in addition to taking Ladha has also captured the militant-held village of Makeen. | The military says that it has advanced into the militant heartland from three directions and in addition to taking Ladha has also captured the militant-held village of Makeen. |
| "We have not seen much resistance as we entered Makeen," a senior military official in the region who declined to be identified told the Reuters news agency. | "We have not seen much resistance as we entered Makeen," a senior military official in the region who declined to be identified told the Reuters news agency. |
| "Our troops are now clearing mines improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and moving forward." | "Our troops are now clearing mines improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and moving forward." |
| The latest fighting is taking place in the same area where Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed in an attack by a US drone aircraft in early August. | The latest fighting is taking place in the same area where Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud was killed in an attack by a US drone aircraft in early August. |
| The clashes are being closely watched by the US and its Nato allies fighting in neighbouring Afghanistan who argue that the South Waziristan area is a sanctuary for al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters. | The clashes are being closely watched by the US and its Nato allies fighting in neighbouring Afghanistan who argue that the South Waziristan area is a sanctuary for al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters. |
| In a separate development, police say that they have killed two militants in a clash after they refused to stop their vehicle at a checkpoint in the town of Mansehra, 90km (56 miles) north of Islamabad. | In a separate development, police say that they have killed two militants in a clash after they refused to stop their vehicle at a checkpoint in the town of Mansehra, 90km (56 miles) north of Islamabad. |
| Two policemen were wounded in the attack, police say, and bomb-laden jackets and detonators normally used by suicide bombers were recovered. | Two policemen were wounded in the attack, police say, and bomb-laden jackets and detonators normally used by suicide bombers were recovered. |