Insurgents fleeing, Pakistan says

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Pakistani military sources say foreign insurgents are on the run following weeks of fighting in the volatile border region along the Afghan border.

Military officials describe foreign fighters fleeing their outposts in the mountainous border regions. The government launched a major military offensive against foreign and Taliban insurgents in South Waziristan on Oct. 17.

Security forces during the weekend captured several key Taliban strongholds since the fighting began and said they expected more gains in the coming days, Pakistan's News International newspaper reports.

Tribal leaders in the region said the military has cleared about 10 miles of land near the border town of Jandola. Area residents say Pakistani jets struck several militant hideouts during the weekend, raising the death toll to more than 300 insurgents, the report said.

The assault follows a threat from the Pakistani Taliban to avenge the death of their leader Baitullah Mehsud, killed during a U.S. airstrike in August.

The News on Monday featured an advertisement offering a substantial financial reward for the capture of Hakeemullah Mehsud, who took power following the assassination of Baitullah.

Pakistan has suffered a series of high-profile attacks since the conflict began in October. Two bombers on motorcycles detonated their explosives Monday in Rawalpindi, killing an estimated 30 people.