FACTBOX - The battle in Pakistan's South Waziristan

REUTERS - Pakistani soldiers are zeroing in on two major Taliban sanctuaries in their South Waziristan bastion as government forces pressed ahead with their offensive in the lawless tribal region on the Afghan border.

Troops have surrounded Kanigurum, a stronghold of Uzbek fighters allied with the Pakistani Taliban, officials said.

The security forces last week recaptured the strategic town of Kotkai, the birthplace of Pakistani Taliban Hakimullah Mehsud, in their first major success against the militants in the offensive launched on the Sept. 17.

(For a graphic showing the whereabouts of fighting, click here)

Here are some facts about South Waziristan:

THE LAND

South Waziristan has an area of about 6,620 square km (2,550 square miles). It borders Afghanistan to the west, North Waziristan to the north, North West Frontier Province to the east and Baluchistan province to the south. Its main town is Wana. It is an arid land of mountains pock-marked dried-up creeks, along with sparse forests and rocky plains.