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'Dozens die' in Pakistan fighting | 'Dozens die' in Pakistan fighting |
(40 minutes later) | |
Pakistani forces say they have killed 37 pro-Taleban militants in overnight clashes in South Waziristan but the militants have dismissed the claim. | Pakistani forces say they have killed 37 pro-Taleban militants in overnight clashes in South Waziristan but the militants have dismissed the claim. |
A Taleban spokesman told the BBC one militant was killed and one hurt in the fighting, while 10 Pakistani troops were killed and 13 were taken captive. | A Taleban spokesman told the BBC one militant was killed and one hurt in the fighting, while 10 Pakistani troops were killed and 13 were taken captive. |
South Waziristan is a known stronghold of pro-Taleban and al-Qaeda militants. | South Waziristan is a known stronghold of pro-Taleban and al-Qaeda militants. |
The army also said two troops were killed and seven hurt in an attack on an army camp in North Waziristan. | The army also said two troops were killed and seven hurt in an attack on an army camp in North Waziristan. |
Army's tribal quagmireBaitullah Mehsud profile | |
According to the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad, the North Waziristan attack appears aimed at distracting the Pakistani military from its operation in South Waziristan. | According to the BBC's Syed Shoaib Hasan in Islamabad, the North Waziristan attack appears aimed at distracting the Pakistani military from its operation in South Waziristan. |
Pakistani forces in South Waziristan have been pursuing fighters loyal to the fugitive militant leader, Baitullah Mehsud. | Pakistani forces in South Waziristan have been pursuing fighters loyal to the fugitive militant leader, Baitullah Mehsud. |
Islamabad and Washington have blamed Mr Mehsud for the assassination in December of Benazir Bhutto, a former Pakistani prime minister who had returned from exile to contest an election. | |
Clashes between government troops and militants based around the rugged Afghan border have intensified in the weeks since Ms Bhutto's death. | |
US military talks | |
The latest fighting was centred around the military's Ladha fort, near the Afghan border, which was attacked at 0100 (2000 GMT Monday). | |
Speaking earlier, military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas said five soldiers were killed in the attack and seven hurt. | |
Another military fort in the same district was briefly overrun by hundreds of pro-Taleban militants last week. | |
The following day, Pakistani soldiers abandoned their positions in a nearby district, fearing attack by militants. | |
Meanwhile, Pakistani army chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani has held talks with the head of the US military's Central Command for the Middle East, Adm William Fallon. | |
A Pakistani military statement said the two men discussed the security situation in the region. |
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