-
Soldiers take up positions outside the main gate of the Pakistan army headquarters after an attack by armed men in Rawalpindi - Source: Reuters -
Related
Pakistan's army began a ground operation against Taliban
militants in the South Waziristan region on the Afghan border after
weeks of air and artillery strikes, a senior government official
said.
In a show of unity in advance of the ground offensive, government
and political party leaders gave the military full backing on
Friday, vowing to weed out militants and restore the writ of the
state.
"The ground operation has begun," Tariq Hayat Khan, secretary of
Pakistan's ethnic Pashtun tribal regions, said.
He gave no details and military spokesmen were unavailable for
comment.
The army says about 28,000 soldiers are in place to take on an
estimated 10,000 hard-core Taliban.
About 500 commandos arrived in the region on Friday, security
officials said.
The army has stepped up its air and artillery attacks in recent
days to soften up the militants' defences while civilians have been
fleeing.
The militants have launched a series of brazen attacks in the past
12 days, striking at the United Nations, the army headquarters,
police and the general public, killing more than 150 people and
apparently trying to stave off the army assault.
Army chief briefs leaders
Army chief General Ashfaq Kayani briefed government and party
leaders on Friday and they all agreed that the militants posed a
serious threat to the sovereignty and integrity of the state.
"The national consensus is reaffirmed to establish and maintain the
writ of the state to weed out these elements," Prime Minister Yusuf
Raza Gilani's office said.
More than 80,000 civilians had fled from South Waziristan in
anticipation of the offensive and the UN refugee agency said more
people had left this week.
Earlier, a government official said authorities had imposed a
curfew along roads in South Waziristan to protect forces moving
towards militant strongholds.
An intelligence official said soldiers, tanks and artillery were
being taken towards militant areas.
Telephone services had apparently been suspended to the
region.
Roadside bombs went off near military convoys in both South and
North Waziristan regions, killing three soldiers and wounding five,
another intelligence official said.
Pakistani Taliban made advances towards Islamabad early this year,
raising fears about the stability of the US ally.
But significant military gains in the Swat valley, northwest of
Islamabad, have reassured the United States and other allies about
Pakistan's commitment to the fight.
World News Video
-
Dangerous rush to Everest summit (1:59)
-
Dozens killed in Syrian massacre (2:09)
-
'King of Romance' competes in Eurovision (1:46)
