22 Oct 2009

Intense fighting reported around Taliban stronghold

5:50 am on 22 October 2009

Intense fighting is reported to be continuing in South Waziristan around Kotkai, a stronghold for the Taliban in Pakistan.

The army says it is meeting strong resistance there to an offensive whiuch began on Saturday.

The Taliban claims 40 soldiers were killed in an attack on a security post near Kotkai.

The army acknowledges that four soldiers died.

However, with all roads to the region closed by the army, it is difficult to get independent reports on the battle.