Pak forces enter Taliban-held Makeen

The Pakistani military on Friday claimed its forces have entered the important Taliban stronghold of Makeen in South Waziristan even as gunmen injured an army brigadier and his driver in an audacious attack in the federal capital.

"Security forces have moved into the town of Makeen, which is considered as the base headquarters of terrorists," the military said in a statement.

A large part of the town had been cleared and the home of slain Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud had been demolished.

Twenty-four militants were killed and another was captured in fighting over the past 24 hours, the military said. A total of 21 militants were gunned down around Makeen.

The military's claim came hours after two motorcycle-borne gunmen shot and wounded Brig Suhail and his driver shortly after he left his home in Sector I-8/4 of Islamabad.

Sources said the brigadier worked for the Inter-Services Intelligence agency though there was no word on the incident from the army.

Superintendent of Police Fakhar Alam said the gunmen fled after the attack and police had found some empty bullet casings and a pistol at the site.

Doctors at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences said the brigadier and his driver were in a "stable condition".