Operation against militants begins in Pakistan
- Source: Xinhua
- [21:09 October 17 2009]
- Comments
Pakistan Army troops prepare to leave for patrolling during a curfew in Bannu, a town on the edge of Pakistan's lawless tribal belt Waziristan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
The military ground offensive started Saturday in northwest Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal agency, the stronghold of Taliban in Pakistan, local TV channels reported.
The Pakistani political administration sources said the security forces are advancing in different parts of South Waziristan as ground assaults will be supported by air strikes to clear up militants with a full-fledged offensive in the remote, mountainous region where the government has long had little control.
Reports said fighter jets pounded militants hideouts in tehsil Ladha and Sarokai at the start of the operation. Periodic fire was also heard in Makeen.
The army said about 30,000 soldiers are in place to take on an estimated 10,000 hard-core Taliban militants in the lawless area near the border with Afghanistan. About 500 commandos arrived in the region on Friday, security officials said.
Officials said three divisions of the military, paramilitary and police would be mobilized, eventually numbering up to 60,000 troops, to spearhead a lightning campaign before winter set in.
The ground offensive was launched after two bloody weeks in Pakistan, during which a spate of militant attacks, including a siege of the army's headquarters, killed more than 150 people.
The top national leadership has given Pakistan army green signal to launch a massive military operation against militants in South Waziristan during Friday meeting.
Meanwhile, massive evacuation of locals is underway due to operation. The residents of these areas are moving towards Peshawar, Bannu and North Waziristan.
Government sources said the military operation in South Waziristan will last for two months while the Special Support Group will complete mass evacuation comprising of 120,000 people as late as Sunday night.
More than 80,000 civilians had fled from South Waziristan in anticipation of the offensive and the UN refugee agency said more people are leaving this week.
However, they are facing difficulties because of indefinite curfew.
