Pakistan army action to end ahead of schedule

Islamabad: The military operation in the South Waziristan tribal region, now in its fourth week, will be completed ahead of the planned date, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said on Saturday.

At the opening of a power plant at Pattoki in Punjab province, Gilani said the anti-Taliban offensive "has been going on very effectively".

"Our troops will finish the job before the expected time," the prime minister said, saluting tents of thousands of soldiers involved in the operation launched on October 17.

Over the past three weeks the army, back by air force heavy artillery, has seized control of almost all stronghold towns of banned Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP), killing hundreds of militants.

Military sources said the initial tough resistance by TTP fighters had faded out and the insurgents were on the run, leaving behind large quantities of weapons and ammunition.

A statement issued by the military's public relations wing yesterday, the 22nd day of the offensive, said 12 more terrorists had been killed in clashes since Friday.

Before the start of the operation the military estimate put the number of TTP fighters, including foreigners, at around 10,000.

Sources and media reports said the militants were slipping away to hideouts in the mountains or to North Waziristan and other neighbouring areas.

The sources said the operation was likely to be over by the end of the month, or in the beginning of December, before the onset of the harsh winter.

The military said that while the army has taken control of two former strongholds — Sararogha and Ladha — there were still occasional clashes with militants. The army was still battling for full control of Makeen, which they call the "nerve centre" of the Pakistani Taliban.

"The fight against militancy… is a long and tough battle as we have to not only fight the extremists but also the extremist mindset," President Asif Ali Zardari told a group of lawmakers on Friday night, according to his spokesman. "The adversary in this battle should not be underestimated."

In mid-October, Pakistan launched an offensive in South Waziristan, a semiautonomous tribal region along the Afghan border where the government has seldom had significant influence, and which had become the main Taliban and Al Qaida sanctuary in the country. The military says hundreds of militants have been killed in the fighting.

Journalists barred

The reality of the situation remains unclear. While refugees fleeing the area have reported fierce fighting, there have been few specific details. Journalists are not allowed into the region except on carefully orchestrated government trips.

The offensive has sparked a wave of retaliatory attacks across Pakistan.

In the neighbouring tribal region of North Waziristan, people who fled the fighting say they are not receiving help from the Pakistani government, which has set up aid distribution centres far to the south.

Instead, the displaced people have been forced to rely on help from tribal elders who have established a series of camps.

"I have no means to go and get government help," said Zaman Khan, a Makeen shopkeeper who fled with his four children, his parents and other relatives. They are now living in one room in the town of Khaisur Sharif.

With inputs from AP