Pakistanis attack the Taliban

More than 30,000 Pakistani soldiers launched a long-expected assault on the Taliban lair of South Waziristan today, following a fortnight of militant attacks that left 175 people dead and underlined the threat to Pakistan's stability.

Early clashes were reported to have claimed more than 20 casualties as government soldiers pressed in on the mountain stronghold from three sides, backed by helicopter gunships, warplanes and artillery. A fifth of the local population has fled in recent weeks.

The operation is Pakistan's largest ever drive against Islamist extremists. The army says that it has deployed the 30,000 troops against an estimated 10,000 Taliban and al-Qaida fighters. The battle zone is the Mehsud tribal territory, whose impoverished villages have a long history of producing formidable tribal fighters. The Pakistan Taliban in the region are now led by Hakimullah Mehsud, the successor of Baitullah Mehsud, who was killed in an American drone strike last August.

Pakistan sends 30,000 troops for all-out assault on Taliban | World news | The Observer

 

There are millions of Taliban and their supporters in Pakistain

This assult is just a show for the West.

To kill even a hundred Taliban is just a drop in the bucket.

 

Support for the Taliban in Pakistan has dropped to nil.

Suicide attacks don't win hearts and minds.

All they do is kill innocent people.

 

Congratulations to Pakistan

We need to press them from both sides.

 

There's less support for the Taliban in the cities, but I think your absolutely right and in the long run this nation and the Afghans are going to have to make a deal with the moderate elements of the Taliban to end this war.

 

In the early 30's millions supported Adolph Hitler. Anyone rooting for the Taliban should seriously consider their approach to human rights.

 

Who's routing for the taliban?

 

Possibly sunni man we shall have to wait his response if any for clarification however.

 

Update....

Pakistani troops seized control of Kotkai, the home village of Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud, where Mehsud has lived with fellow Taliban commander Qari Hussein. Hussein is the mastermind of some of Pakistan's deadliest suicide attacks.

Airstrikes from jet fighters and helicopter gunships targeted militant hideouts in Kotkai and the villages of Badar, Barwand, and Khisur -- all strongholds of the Taliban and their late leader Baitullah Mehsud, another official told CNN.

The officials asked not to be identified because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

Four Pakistani soldiers were killed and 12 others were wounded on the first day of the battle, the military said.

The ground offensive in South Waziristan was launched Saturday morning after the military received clearance from the government, said Gen. Athar Abbas, the Pakistan military spokesman.

He said the region's eight entry and exit points have been sealed by troops.

Pakistani troops 'seize Taliban leader's village' - CNN.com

 

I am not rooting for the Taliban. Just using common sense.

You are not going to defeat the so called Taliban

What we call the Taliban is really just a loose confederation of tribes, sub tribes, and intermarriages between tribes.

These groups are made up of members who's loyality is to their family tribe and the local warlord..

They have NO loyality to the Afghan or Pakistan governments and never will.


The best thing we could do is to include the different Taliban groups into any political process.

btw You will never be able to build a viable Afghan government without including the Taliban.