Pakistan Launches Ground Offensive in South Waziristan

Pakistan launched its much anticipated ground offensive today into South Waziristan, the Pakistani Taliban’s stronghold.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-17-voa9.cfm

The army started moving in from three different areas — Razmak to the north, Jandola to the east and Shakai in the west — in an attempt to squeeze the militants.

Click here for the story.

The Pakistani military has put South Waziristan under siege for months with its forces concentrated in bases both in and around the tribal area.  It also has repeatedly launched air and artillery strikes on suspected militant positions there.

The tribal area bordering Afghanistan is a remote and mountainous region.  I spoke today with the head of the United Nations’ Office for Coordinating Humanitarian Affairs in Pakistan.  He said his office is working closely with Pakistani agencies to help civilians displaced by the violence get through the area’s harsh winter, which is just a few weeks away.

He said a major concern for those displaced is sanitation and adequate water, especially for those taking shelter in nearby Dera Ismail Khan.  He also said his office expects more than 200,000 to flee South Waziristan.

Check out my earlier blog post about the IDPs (internally displaced persons) in the area.

As I spoke to analysts about today’s events, I found that a few believed the United States was using its recent aid package to the country as leverage to get Pakistan to launch its offensive.

Check out my story from yesterday for background.

In any event, if this operation is successful, it wouldn’t surprise me if we hear Washington asking Islamabad about when they are going to tackle the Afghan Taliban in North Waziristan.  The Haqqani network based there is responsible for attacks against NATO forces in Afghanistan.

Check out my earlier blog post to read why Pakistan might not be so quick to engage them.