Pakistan makes gains on Taliban

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- The Pakistani military on Friday said it stormed Taliban strongholds in the tribal region along the border with Afghanistan as part of major military offensive.

"Today, security forces have entered Makin," a military statement read. "A large part of the town has been cleared while a clearance operation is continuing in the remaining part."

The military says more than 260 militants have been killed with the army losing about 30 soldiers since the assault began Oct. 17. By Sunday, military forces reportedly had reached the outskirts of Makin and Sararogha, the command-and-control centers of the militants.

The offensive comes as the Pakistani Taliban vowed revenge for the death of their leader Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in August.

The Taliban claimed responsibility for a series of high-profile attacks across the country, including operations targeting military and U.N. outposts.

The home of Mehsud was destroyed during the latest round of military operations, Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reports.

The report cautions that the Pakistani military is the only source of information from the conflict zone as journalists are prevented from entering the region.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi in a recent news conference described the Taliban offensive as "very successful."