Around the World: Pakistan

Army advances, town captured

The army claimed to be advancing on a main Pakistani Taliban stronghold along the Afghan border yesterday, a day after capturing the hometown of the militant group's chief. The militants in the rugged, lawless South Waziristan tribal region continued to attack troops with rockets, an army statement said. The army announced on Saturday the capture of Kotkai, the hometown of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud and one of his top deputies, Qari Hussain. The town lies on the way to the major militant base of Sararogha, and the army statement yesterday said troops had captured two key fronts between Kotkai and the base.

(China Daily 10/26/2009 page8)