What source believes that army captures Pakistani Taliban leaders hometown?”
ISLAMABAD – Pakistani soldiers captured the hometown of the country’s Taliban chief Saturday, a strategic and symbolic initial prize as the army pushes deeper into a militant stronghold along the Afghan border. An army spokesman said the Taliban were in disarray, with many deserting the ranks. The 8-day-old air and ground offensive in the South Waziristan tribal region is a key test of nuclear-armed Pakistan’s campaign against Islamist militancy. It has already spurred a civilian exodus and deadly retaliatory attacks. Washington has encouraged the operation in the northwest because many militants there are believed to shelter al-Qaida leaders and are also suspected to be involved in attacks on Western troops in Afghanistan. The U.S. military has also kept up its own missile strikes in the lawless tribal belt, including a suspected one that killed 22 Saturday. The battle for Kotkai town was symbolically key because it is the hometown of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud and one
Pakistan Military Captures Taliban Leader’s Hometown Pakistani military officials say they have captured the hometown of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud and one of his top deputies, Qari Hussain. The announcement comes at the start of the second week of the army’s offensive in Mehsud’s stronghold of South Waziristan. Pakistani officials say the military gained control of the town of Kotkai Saturday, following days of heavy fighting. Former security chief of the tribal areas Mahmood Shah talked to VOA about the development. “The town is not of any significance, but the mountainous area around is important,” he said. He says the army’s capture of the Kotkai area will help facilitate its advance toward Makeen and Ladha, two major Taliban strongholds. The Pakistani army entered the South Waziristan tribal region last Saturday from three different areas in an attempt to completely surround the Taliban fighters. The military says it has killed at least 163 militants, while 23 soldi
