Pakistan 'captures Taliban hideout'

security forces took control of Gulabad and established checkposts

The Pakistani military claims to have captured a Taliban rear-base - believed  to be the stronghold of Mullah Fazlullah, a pro-Taliban leader, and a centre for 4,000 fighters.The hideout in Gatt Puchar, a mountainous region in the Swat valley, was taken on Tuesday morning, with helicopters being used in the assault, military sources told.Troops were dropped into the area, which has so far proved impenetrable by land.There has been no confirmation of Fazlullah's whereabouts following the attack.Another military air attack on Tuesday killed at least eight people in a house in Sara Mhora, in South Waziristan, on the Afghan border, according to intelligence sources.Sources said several militants were killed when helicopter gunships and troops on the ground attacked a government school for girls in Gulabad from where a band of outlaws had been firing on troops. A militant vehicle was destroyed during shelling.Two civilians were killed when a pick-up carrying vegetables was hit on Badwan road. Eleven civilians were also injured in various parts of Adenzai tehsil.Troops took control of the Dir-Peshawar Highway and established checkposts at Gulabad and Kharkanai. The armed Taliban had set up checkpoints on the highway and were patrolling from Chakdara to Talash.The assault is thought to have been carried out by a US drone.