Indian arms found in S. Waziristan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Islamabad will handle claims that Indian-made weapons were uncovered in military operations in South Waziristan through diplomatic channels, officials said.

Pakistani security forces claim to have uncovered a sizable weapons and ammunition cache in hideouts used allegedly by insurgents in South Waziristan.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira told reporters the Islamabad government would seek a political resolution to the issue, Pakistan's daily newspaper The Nation reports.

"The government would effectively take up this issue with India through diplomatic channels," he said.

Tensions between the two nuclear-armed rivals intensified following attacks in Mumbai carried out by Pakistani-based militants in November 2008.

The Pakistani military launched a major military offensive targeting Taliban and other insurgents in their strongholds in the tribal belts along the volatile border with Afghanistan in October.

The Taliban vowed revenge for the death of their leader Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed by a U.S. airstrike in August. The Taliban claimed responsibility for a series of high-profile attacks throughout Pakistan in recent weeks.

Pakistani military forces claim to have taken control of several insurgent strongholds in recent days. The military announced Tuesday more than 20 insurgents were killed in fighting in South Waziristan in the past 24 hours.