Pakistan president insists fight against militants won’t end with South Waziristan offensive

October 30th, 2009 Pakistan military: 24 militants killed in 24 hoursISLAMABAD — Pakistan's military says it has killed two dozen militants over the past day and is closing in on a prominent guerrilla stronghold in the mountains of South Waziristan. A Friday statement from the military also says that two Pakistani soldiers were killed during a militant mortar attack and three more were wounded in a bombing.

October 26th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Around 200,000 people have reportedly abandoned their homes in South Waziristan as the Pakistan Army has stepped up its offensive in the region, an army spokesman said on Monday. Colonel Waseem Shahid, a spokesman for the army's special support group, was quoted by a foreign news agency as saying that 26,165 families have been registered so far.

October 24th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has vowed that the military offensive in South Waziristan would continue until its logical conclusion despite the Taliban's continuous effort to create havoc across the country and derail the civilian government. Speaking at a high level meeting on national security at the Prime Minister's House, Gilani said stern action would be taken against all those who challenge the writ of the state and stressed that failure in the ongoing Waziristan military operation was not an option.

October 21st, 2009 Officials: Alleged US missile kills 3 in PakistanPESHAWAR, Pakistan — Intelligence officials say a suspected U.S. missile strike has killed three alleged militants in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region.

October 19th, 2009 KOHAT - The Pakistan Taliban has launched a fund-raising campaign in many parts of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas in order to fuel their fight against the Pakistani military, which started its ground offensive in South Waziristan on Saturday. According to the Dawn, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan is asking tribesmen in the Orakzai Agency, Kurram Agency and Hangu to donate generously because, they say, the conflict in South Waziristan is likely to be a long one.

October 13th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The terrorist attack on the Pakistan Army General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Saturday that left 20 people dead may accelerate plans for a full-scale military offensive against the Taliban and Al Qaeda in South Waziristan. Army's main target is likely to be the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which operates in South Waziristan, the Wall Street Journal reports.

October 13th, 2009 Pakistan bombs militants close to Afghan borderISLAMABAD — An intelligence official says Pakistani jets have bombed militant targets in an insurgent stronghold close to the Afghan border. The military has been attacking militants in South Waziristan for several months ahead of an expected ground offensive there.

October 7th, 2009 Pakistan expects 'tough resistance' in WaziristanISLAMABAD — The Pakistani army expects Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in the South Waziristan tribal region to put up "tough resistance" against a military offensive, the army's chief spokesman said. Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas also confirmed earlier reports that the military has completed preparations for what could be one of the most important operations against militants in Pakistan since 2001.

September 28th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that Islamabad is yet to decide whether it should launch a full-scale military operation in Waziristan to clear Taliban militants from the tribal areas. He, however, said that Pakistan would take necessary action to flush out the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), "the front face of al Qaeda." "Let's not forget, it's not only the TTP which is operating there.

August 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.

August 9th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - In a bid to ensure that Islamabad doesn't call off or delay its military offensive in Waziristan following the reported death of Baitullah Mehsud, the United States has told Pakistan to continue fighting the war on terror in the tribal areas. "The Obama administration is pleased over the death of Baitullah Mehsud, but it is against any decision by Islamabad to delay the South Waziristan offensive for long or call it off," The Nation quoted a diplomatic source, as saying.

July 22nd, 2009 ISLAMABAD - The United States may ask Pakistan to initiate a full-fledged military operation in South Waziristan targeting the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Baitullah Mehsud during the US Special Envoy for Pakistan and Afghanistan, Richard Holbrooke's visit to the country. Holbrooke, who arrived here on Tuesday on a three-day visit, may demand more commitment from Pakistan in South Waziristan, diplomatic sources said.

June 30th, 2009 Pakistan militants abandon peace dealMIR ALI, Pakistan — Taliban militants in a Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan say they're scrapping a peace deal with the government. The decision by insurgents in North Waziristan raises the prospect of wider unrest now that the army is stepping up offensives against the Taliban.

June 20th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - With the Pakistan government announcing a Swat like military offensive in South Waziristan with a primary motive to hunt down the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud, the NATO forces deployed in Afghanistan are also ready to extend help. The allied forces stationed in Afghanistan will likely extend help in Pakistan's military offensive, by sharing important intelligence inputs in order to prevent a probable spill-over of the militants, The Nation reports.

June 2nd, 2009 Army: 79 Pakistanis abducted by Taliban rescuedISLAMABAD — The army says its troops have rescued 79 people who were among a group abducted by Taliban militants in northwester Pakistan. Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas said Tuesday at least one person is still missing.