Pakistani airstrikes kill dozens of Taliban fighters

PAKISTANI airstrikes killed dozens of Taliban fighters in a fierce struggle to drive them from a district near the capital, while the militants took over police stations and kidnapped more than 50 security forces, the army said.

One member of the security forces also died in the fighting, the top military spokesman said.

Pakistan is acting under intense US pressure to take a tougher line against Islamic militants expanding from strongholds along the Afghan border, where al-Qaida leaders including Osama bin Laden may also be hiding.