Up to 60 Taliban militants killed as Pakistani army steps up assaults

PAKISTANI helicopter gunships and ground troops pounded Taliban fighters yesterday, killing up to 60 militants and destroying a dozen would-be suicide bombers in fierce fighting, the army said.

The military launched the gruelling assault in the northwest of the nuclear power six days ago under US pressure after the Islamist hardliners advanced to within 100km of the capital Islamabad.

As the fighting raged, US Defence Secretary Robert Gates appealed to Congress to free up money for military aid to Pakistan, which is central to Washington’s strategy for stopping the insurgency in neighbouring Afghanistan.