Fierce gun battles were reported raging as Pakistani troops continued to inch deeper into the Taliban's heartland in Waziristan in the country's restive northwest. Chief Military spokesman Maj Gen Athar Abbas has claimed that they are closing in on the heartland of slain Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud's organisation in the area.<br/><br/>Having code-named the campaign as 'Rah-e-Nijat' or 'Path to Salvation,' Abbas said Pakistan military was advancing on two axes from the southeast and southwest on Taliban's main defences in the region. He said the Army is also blocking routes in the north so that they do not escape towards either North Waziristan or the border area with Afghanistan. The Army continued the advance under the cover of a heavy artillery barrage and engaged rebels and foreign fighters linked to al Qaida in fierce gun battles.<br/> <br/>As the operation in which Pakistani Army is reported to be deploying up to 30,000 troops, entered its third day on Monday, Major Abbas said it is progressing well.<br/><br/>Army has indicated the operation would last between six and eight weeks, before deep winter sets in. According to Army spokesman so far, over 60 militants and five soldiers had died in the fighting. Many militants and 11 soldiers were injured. Meanwhile, visiting US Central Command chief Gen David Petraeus ton Monday met Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to discuss the operation in South Waziristan and bilateral defence cooperation. Petraeus is also scheduled to meet President Asif Ali Zardari and army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. <br/><br/>