From Syed Mohsin Naqvi

LAHORE, Pakistan (CNN) -- Two days of heavy fighting between Pakistani troops and Taliban and al Qaeda militants near the rugged border with Afghanistan has left dozens dead on both sides, an army spokesman said Monday.

Children receive treatment on Monday at a hospital in Bannu following fighting between soldiers and militants.

Pakistani soldiers backed by helicopter gunships launched a massive operation Sunday in North Waziristan, part of the country's largely lawless tribal areas.

Heavy fighting continued into Monday, with 60 militants reported dead, Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad said.

More than 50 Pakistani troops have died since the operation began, Arshad said. The bodies of 30 of those troops have been recovered, he said. ( MISSING MAY HAVE DESERTED OR DEFECTED )

The new push follows recent attacks on Pakistani security forces and the breakdown over the summer of a cease-fire between the Islamabad government and tribal leaders.

U.S. intelligence officials say the cease-fire gave al Qaeda a new safe haven in the tribal region.

SOURCE:

Gerald

Caps above mine.
Patki news services tend to down play number of Taliban or al Qaeda killed and over state the number of Patki troops dead. Often they will state total number deaths, with no break down between insurgent and government troops. And the tend to use the word "dead " rather than "killed". As one denotes facts, dead, while the other denotes actions, killed.

Patki news semantics are very exacting and aim for neutrality as they consider all killed on both sides as Pakistanis first and government or insurgents second.

There is a taste of killing your enemy without offending them culture.

How does all this tie into "al qaeda's Psyops for Patki"

Gerald
Anthropologist

UPDATE: