ISLAMABAD - Security forces fighting their way through a mountainous Taliban stronghold killed at least seven militants yesterday and injured several more, officials said, while Pakistan’s foreign minister said the offensive in tribal South Waziristan should finish sooner than originally expected.

As part of the government’s ramping up of its fight against the militants, it will offer bounties of up to $600,000 for each of the top three Taliban leaders, according to an official advertisement to be published today in Pakistani newspapers and obtained by The Associated Press.