THE TELEGRAPH: Pakistan prepares for South Waziristan offensive against Taliban: Pakistan's armed forces are preparing to launch an all-out offensive against the Taliban's tribal stronghold in South Waziristan after almost 170 people were killed in terror attacks in the country in just 11 days. >>> Dean Nelson in New Delhi, Javed Siddiq in Islamabad and Emal Khan in Peshawar | Friday, October 16, 2009
THE TELEGRAPH: Pakistani troops are facing heavy resistance from the Taliban after beginning an offensive in South Waziristan.
Ground forces moved out of their bases in three different direction towards territory dominated by fighters loyal to the warlord Hakimullah Mehsud and his predecessor, Baitullah Mehsud, the notorious Pakistani Taliban leader killed in a US missile attack and his successor Hakimullah Mehsud.
Four soldiers were killed and 12 others wounded when their advance from Shakai ran into resistance in Sharwangi, one of the first areas of Mehsud's territory they reached, a local administration official said. He added that the Taliban were using "heavy weapons" against the army.
An army official confirmed that soldiers had already met resistance within hours of the start of the operation, which has been planned for months and follows weeks of air and artillery strikes.
A senior government official said that the government and party leaders gave the military full backing on Friday, vowing to weed out militants and restore the writ of the state. >>> | Saturday, October 17, 2009
