Conflicting claims as Pakistan battles the Taliban

19/10/09 07:41 CET

world news

| |

Pakistan claims to have killed at least 60 Taliban fighters on the second day of its assault on South Waziristan. The Taliban however said they had repelled repeated attacks, while suffering only one death. Independent verification is impossible as journalists are banned. But it’s known foreign fighters have strengthened the Taliban ranks.

“There are foreign militants in the area, predominantly Uzbeks,” said military spokesman Athaar Abbas. “They are hard-core fighters and trainers.” Pakistani soldiers moved in to the mountainous region on the border with Afghanistan after months of bombing and shelling to weaken Taliban defences. However, military sources admit they face a long drawn-out battle to impose state control over the rebellious area. Pakistan is under pressure from America to crush growing Islamic militancy as President Obama considers boosting US troop levels in Afghanistan. Washington is already increasing military aid to Pakistan to help fight the Taliban.More about: Afghanistan, Attack, Pakistan, Taliban, Terrorism

| |

Syrian bloodshed spreads to Aleppo

The upsurge in violence in Syria has spread to the northern city of Aleppo, where soldiers and civilians have been killed in separate explosions, according to state TV. It said a building used by military intelligence and a security forces as a base, had been targeted in what it described as…