Pakistan requires 'months' for Waziristan push, says ArmyAugust 18th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistani Army has said that it would require months to prepare for a ground offensive against the Taliban in their South Waziristan stronghold on the Afghan border. Lieutenant-General Nadeem Ahmed, Commander of the 1 Strike Corps in Mangla in Pakistan Kashmir, said this while reacting to comments made by visiting US envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke.
US drone strike kills Baitullah Mehsud's wifeAugust 5th, 2009 KARACHI - Pak-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud's wife was killed by a US missile strike in Pakistan's South Waziristan on Wednesday, Pakistani military officials said. Although Mehsud's aides didn't confirm the report, they admitted that a woman was killed in Pakistan's tribal region.
33 Taliban fighters killed in South Waziristan, Malakand: Pak ArmyJuly 23rd, 2009 RAWALPINDI - The Pakistan Army has killed at least 27 Taliban fighters in various districts of the Malakand division in the last 24 hours. According to an ISPR statement, fighter jets pounded Taliban hideouts in South Waziristan killing six close aides of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud.
Pak "may be biting off too much" in launching Waziristan offensive without sealing SwatJuly 3rd, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Army may have been planning an all out assault against the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud in his stronghold of South Waziristan, but experts believe that the operation could result in further disappointment for the United States. South Asia specialist at the Council on Foreign Relations, Daniel Markey, warned that Pakistan "may be biting off too much" by initiating an offensive against the Taliban chieftain in his stronghold without establishing total command in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP).
Pak military taking history lessons to 'Get Baitullah'June 30th, 2009 LAHORE - In a bid to make its 'Get Baitullah' mission successful, the Pakistan Army is paying heed to lessons learnt by the British military some 70 year ago in Waziristan. When the British went to war against Waziristan tribesmen more than 70 years ago, the ensuing guerrilla conflict lasted more than a decade.
Militant leader opposing Pakistani Taliban chief killedJune 23rd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - A militant leader, who openly challenged Pakistani Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud, was killed in north-western Pakistan Tuesday, media reports said. Qari Zainuddin was fatally shot in his house in the town of Dera Ismail Khan, located near the lawless South Waziristan tribal district, the main stronghold of Mehsud.
Pak Army intensifies operation in South Waziristan, kills 22 Taliban insurgentsJune 21st, 2009 PESHAWAR - At least 22 Taliban insurgents and other extremists have reportedly been killed, as the Pakistan Army intensified its operation against the Baitullah Mehsud-led Taliban in South Waziristan. According to sources, the security forces are engaged in a gruesome battle in the region, and are also being assisted by Pakistan Air Force fighter jets and helicopter gunships.
Mehsud, Fazalullah shift their base to North WaziristanJune 21st, 2009 PESHAWAR - As the Pakistan Army intensified its offensive against the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan, some highly placed sources have revealed that the warlord along with his top commander, Maulana Fazalullah, has shifted base to Mirali region of North Waziristan. According to sources, Mehsud and Fazalullah both were hiding in South Waziristan, but sneaked into North Waziristan soon after the government announced an all out operation against them.
Mehsud's training camp video worries Pak ArmyJune 21st, 2009 LONDON - As the Pakistan Army prepares for a spectacular offensive against the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud is South Waziristan, a 'jihadi' video showcasing the strength of the insurgents has the security forces worried. The 39-minute video, which was posted on an Al-Qaeda website recently, contains footages of a training camp which is supposedly based in South Waziristan, Mehsud's stronghold.
Pak puts economic blockade to turn Mehsud tribesmen against BaitullahJune 18th, 2009 LONDON - To turn the main support base of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan commander Baitullah Mehsud against him, the Mehsud tribesmen, Pakistan has imposed an economic blockade on his mountain stronghold to encourage civilians to flee before a planned ground offensive. Authorities are also arresting dozens of Mehsud tribesmen and shutting down the businesses of others on the fringes of South Waziristan , according to local officials.
Wazir tribes negotiating with Pak military, Taliban to keep their areas offensive-safeJune 17th, 2009 PESHAWAR - Caught between heavy shelling by the Pak air force against Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan and retaliatory efforts by the Taliban fighters, Ahmedzai Wazir tribes have begun negotiating with both the sides to keep their areas safe. "We have been shuttling between the Taliban and the government for three days to reach some sort of an understanding to keep the Taliban from joining Baitullah," the Daily Times quoted WANA based tribal elders, as saying.
'Mother of all problems' Waziristan will be where battle for soul of Pakistan will be foughtJune 16th, 2009 Peshawar, June 16 (ANI): After fighting against the Taliban for months in Swat, Pakistan has now announced the launch of an offensive in Waziristan-touted as the mother of all problems-to catch Pak-Taliban commander Baitullah Mehsud. "South Waziristan will be a very hard nut to crack.
Pak military's 'Get Baitullah' strategyJune 16th, 2009 PESHAWAR - Last week, when Pak Air Force decided to strike Makeen - a key trade centre of Mehsud tribe in South Waziristan - it was the result of a two-month long brainstorming in the military establishment on how to isolate Baitullah Mehsud within the Taliban. The offensive was virtually carried out to avenge the suicide bombing in Lahore that killed religious scholar Dr Sarfaraz Naeemi.He has a hand in virtually every terrorist attack in Pakistan," Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said recently.
Pak govt. orders all out offensive to hunt down MehsudJune 15th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The Pakistan government has asked the Army to carry out an all out offensive to hunt down the Tehreek-e-Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, and Mehsud tribes. Addressing a press conference, the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Governor, Awais Ghani, said that a comprehensive military operation would be launched against Mehsud for harbouring terrorists, and killing innocent people.
Pakistani warplanes bomb Baitullah Mehsud's strongholdJune 13th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistani warplanes bombed a stronghold of Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud in the South Waziristan tribal region Saturday morning, media reports said. Four fighter jets bombed parts of Makeen and other areas in South Waziristan, destroying several militant hideouts, considered as the stronghold of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) leader Baitullah Mehsud, Dawn reported, citing witness and intelligence reports.
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