Pakistani military forces today re-captured a key Taliban town, considered to be the birthplace of the Pakistan Taliban and holds a significant strategic advantage, as the the town of Kotkai in the South Waziristan region is known to be the gateway to the militant heartland.

The town of Kotkai has been the center of the military offensive by the Pakistani military currently underway in the. The town has been taken over by the military for the second time this week, after the insurgents took control with a daring counter attack, earlier this week. The intense fighting in the region reflects upon the difficulties and hurdles that the terrain puts in front of the soldiers and also emphasizes on the fact that, the Taliban’s battle hardened fighters are extremely comfortable in such regions.

Kotkai is known to be the birthplace of the founder of Pakistan Taliban, Qari Hussain Mehsud, also known as, “the mentor of suicide bombers.” The Pakistan Taliban has been on a rampage, gripping Pakistan in a grip of terror with a string of suicide and commando style terror strikes across the country. The Pakistani military has initiated the massive operation to root out the militants from the largely lawless Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

The United States is also actively lending support to the Pakistani offensive. Today, an attack conducted by a U.S armed drone, killed 15 militants. According to official sources, the strike was aimed at the home of a Taliban commander, and the capitulates include Taliban fighters, including some foreign fighters.

Via Reuters.