Pakistan army kills 42 militants in Taliban base

ISLAMABAD, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani security forces killed 42 more militants during the last 24 hours as the operation in the country's tribal area steadily progressed towards the Taliban strongholds in South Waziristan, the army said Tuesday in a daily press release.

The army said one soldier was killed and another two security forces personnel were injured in clashes in the last 24 hours during the ground assault in various areas in the tribal agency near the border with Afghanistan.

In the operation coded as Rah-e-Nijat, or path of salvation, the security forces continued shelling on extremists hideouts on main Jandola-Sararogha axis, Shakai-Kaniguram axis and Razmak-Makeen axis, the army said.

Huge cache of arms and ammunition have also been recovered during the operation, according to the press release.

In the ending operation in Swat and Malakand, the army said, the security arrested three suspects with another eight voluntarily surrendered.