At least 10 Pakistani soldiers were killed today when troops encountered the stiffest resistance yet during a four-week offensive against the Taliban, military and security officials said.
The violence erupted as troops trying to clear rebel fighters from the South Waziristan region advanced on areas adjoining the Taliban stronghold of Kanigurram, the military said in a statement.
The military said five soldiers and 22 militants were killed, but army and security officials in the area said 10 to 15 troops died in what would be the deadliest single incident for troops in South Waziristan since 17 October.
‘At least 10 soldiers were killed in the clashes, which included some face-to-face fighting,’ one army officer said.
Another official, who asked to remain anonymous, said the toll could be 15.
‘It is the first time we have seen such stiff resistance,’ he said, describing it as the most single deadly incident since nearly 30,000 troops mounted the three-pronged offensive in mid-October.
