The Pakistani army claimed advances farther into South Waziristan along
the Afghan border Sunday, a day after the military said it had captured
the hometown of a Taliban leader.
The military said helicopters provided air support as Pakistani ground
troops pushed from the strategic town of Kotkai -- the hometown of
Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud -- and moved deeper into the lawless
tribal region.
Also Sunday, a suicide bomber blew up his explosives-laden car east of
the capital, Islamabad, killing one police officer. Security forces
detained another man who was in the car but left the vehicle before the
bomb exploded.
In other violence Sunday, a minister for education was assassinated by
gunmen in Quetta, the capital of southwestern Baluchistan province. A
nationalist group, the Baluchistan United Liberation Front, claimed
responsibility for the attack.
Meanwhile, visiting Turkish Prime Minister Rayyip Erdogan and his
Pakistani counterpart, Yusuf Raza Gilani, held talks in Islamabad aimed
at strengthening bilateral ties.
At a joint news conference Sunday, the two men said their countries
enjoy a special relationship based on shared values and common
interests.
Mr. Gilani and Mr. Erdogan said they discussed a wide range of issues,
including the fight against extremism and terrorism and the situation
in Afghanistan. They agreed to boost cooperation in trade, commerce,
and in the cultural spheres.