When should Pakistan launch an operation in North Waziristan?

June 15, 2010 - PRLog -- "Pakistan's military for years has been reluctant to launch its North Waziristan offensive despite pressure from the United States. The unwillingness is thought to be a result of old links between Pakistani forces and the Haqqani Network and Pakistani Taliban groups, who are based in North Waziristan. Apart from those elements, North Waziristan is the main base of al Qaeda in Pakistan.

Of the seven tribal districts forming the country's tribal areas called the FATA, North Waziristan is the only region where no military operation has been conducted since the deployment of Pakistani regular forces in the tribal territories in 2004. FATA forms the bulk of Pakistan's border with Afghanistan, also called the Durand Line. Since the country's founding in 1947, regular troops had never been deployed in the FATA.

Most al Qaeda and other foreign terrorists in North Waziristan are thought to be hiding in Mir Ali and surrounding areas that are outside Mr. Bahadur's control, which is likely the reason Pakistani authorities did not ask him to oust foreign militants. Mir Ali, the second biggest town in North Waziristan after the central town of Miramshah, falls in the Dawar tribal area."

What is your view about starting a military operation in North Waziristan? Take part in ZoneAsia-Pk Poll:
http://www.zoneasia-pk.com/ZoneAsia-Pk/index.php?option=c...


Excerpt Taken from:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jun/8/pakistan-t...