Pakistan Army has begun the long awaited ground assault against taliban fighters in South Waziristan area, Official sources confirmed.
“The ground operation has begun,” said Tariq Hayat Khan, the secretary of Pakistan’s ethnic Pashtun tribal regions. The troops are advancing in from the north, the east, and the west of South Waziristan. The assault will be supported by jet fighters annd gunship helicopters from the air.
The army has said that 28,000 troops have been moved to the area with additional 500 SSG commandos arrived there on Friday this week. The number of hardcore Taliban fighters is estimated to be 10,000.
This operation comes after Waziristan based militants carried out several brazen attacks on Pakistan security forces. In the last twelve days terror activity has claimed 150 lives.
A curfew has been imposed in the area and almost 80,000 people have already fled the area. Nearly all communications in the region have been jammed.
Fighter jets are pounding militants’ hideouts in tehsil Ladha and many casualties from the militant side are expected.
South Waziristan is considered to be the strongest sanctuary for Taliban militants outside Afghanistan. It is thought to be the den for several top Al-Qaida and Taliban leaders. Experts think that this operation will be much more tougher than the operation Pakistan Army carried out Swat region as one complete generation aged between 17 to 22 years is prepared for guerrilla warfare. Pakistan Army has been planning for months before launching this operation but today has the ‘Yes’ call been given to the Army to attack.
