The Pakistani military says its forces have raided two suspected militant compounds in the semi-autonomous tribal region bordering Afghanistan and recovered a huge cache of weapons.
Military sources say the troops found more than 3.5 tons of explosives, hundreds of mortar shells, 18 rocket shells and more than 35,000 rounds of ammunition.
The troops also seized a vehicle used by the militant leader and former Guantanamo Bay prisoner, Abdullah Mehsud, who masterminded the October kidnapping of two Chinese engineers. One of them died during a rescue raid.
Pakistan's military began the offensive to flush out suspected al-Qaida-linked Islamic fighters from South Waziristan in March. The region is considered a possible hideout for al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.
