The US has quietly rushed hundreds of millions of dollars in arms and equipment to Pakistani army battling the pro-Taliban militants in South Waziristan, a report says.

American military surveillance drones have been feeding video images and target information to Pakistani ground commanders, reported the prominent US daily, The New York Times, in its Thursday edition.

Based on the report, Washington has provided the Pakistani Air Force with infrared sensors for F-16 warplanes, which Pakistan is using to guide bomb attacks on militants' strongholds.

The news article observes that senior Pentagon commanders have also hurried spare parts for Cobra helicopter gunships and night vision goggles to Pakistani forces in recent months.

The report quotes senior American and Pakistani officials as saying that the US President Barack Obama has personally intervened, at the request of Pakistan's top army general, to speed the delivery of 10 Mi-17 troop transport helicopters in its military operations in the militant-controlled areas.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced several new foreign aid initiatives during her trip to Pakistan.

Nearly 30,000 army soldiers have been deployed to fight against the insurgents based in the northwestern tribal area, which borders Afghanistan.

Pakistani army says nearly 275 insurgents have been killed since the army launched a major offensive in South Waziristan nearly two weeks ago.

Senior civilians and military officials in Islamabad have played down the American role in its military operations in the rugged tribal terrain.


JR/MB