45 Taliban die

US missile attacks killed at least 45 Taliban in their Pakistan stronghold of South Waziristan yesterday.

Pakistan’s military is also bombing and firing mortars at insurgents in the region, saying it is chipping away at resistance before launching a ground offensive.

The first US strike from an unmanned drone fired six missiles at a mountain-top training camp in the Karwan Manza area of South Waziristan, killing 10 militants. Hours later, 19km to the east, more missiles hit four vehicles carrying Taliban, killing at least 35, including a key commander.

There have now been six American missile attacks in South Waziristan in just over two weeks.