Pakistani troops capture militant stronghold

Pakistan’s army said today it has captured a key militant stronghold near the Afghan border, a breakthrough in an offensive against the Taliban and al-Qaida. It acknowledged for the first time that 95 civilians had died during the offensive.

The military said its forces captured Loi Sam in the Bajur tribal region on Friday after a long and bloody struggle. The town sits on a vital intersection of roads leading to the border as well as to three neighbouring Pakistan regions.