Police in Pakistan say gunmen have killed a high-ranking army officer and another soldier during an ambush in Islamabad.
Authorities said two gunmen riding a motorcycle fired into the soldiers' vehicle Thursday morning in a residential area of the city where many army officers live. Another soldier in their vehicle was wounded.
The gunmen escaped and no group claimed responsibility. Militants have launched a wave of attacks in recent weeks on targets including police training centers, the army's headquarters, an Islamic university and a United Nations office. Most schools across the country are scheduled to remain closed until Sunday because of security fears.
The attacks are viewed as retaliation for the army's ongoing offensive against a Taliban stronghold in South Waziristan.
Pakistani government forces have launched a ground operation on several fronts in the South Waziristan tribal region. Forces are targeting an area considered the stronghold of the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, Hakimullah Mehsud.
On Wednesday, Pakistani military officials said troops were facing fierce resistance in battles for control of Kotkai, Mehsud's hometown. The army reports about 115 militants and 16 soldiers have been killed since the ground operation was launched Saturday.
There is no independent confirmation of the tolls, as the region is closed to outsiders and no journalists are traveling with Pakistani troops.
Pakistani army commanders say 30,000 troops are battling about 10,000 militants in South Waziristan. They expect the offensive to last six to eight weeks, before winter weather makes fighting difficult.
