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Waziristan mission yet to be fullfledged

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Tuesday it had decided “in principle” to take military action in South Waziristan against Beithullah Mehsud and his Taliban fighters and had begun preparing the ground for it.

Military spokesman Major-General Athar Abbas told journalists security forces were taking “preliminary” measures in the area.

Last week, fighter jets bombed Taliban hideouts in the tribal region, while the military has also been carrying out limited operations in Bannu, a frontier town abutting North Waziristan.

“The necessary measures and steps which are part of a preliminary phase of the operation, the preparatory phase of the operation, that has commenced,” the spokesman said at a media briefing.

Earlier this week, North West Frontier Province Governor Owais Ghani told journalists that the government had ordered a “fullfledged” operation against Mehsud.

The statement created an impression that such an operation had already begun, particularly as the military bombed the area only the day before.

Information Minister Qamaruzzaman Kaira, who addressed the media along with the military spokesman, said the operation had not been “officially” launched.

“The government has decided in principle to take military action and Army is ready but operational details, such as when it will start, cannot be given in advance,” he said.

He denied reports that the Governor’s statements had set off another wave of migration from Waziristan, saying the government had not observed “any large-scale movement” of people.

Mr. Kaira said the financial cost of the war against the Taliban was not an issue for the government. “When the nation is giving sacrifices, when soldiers are giving their lives for this war, when millions of people are leading displaced lives for this operation, we are not going to hold back any resources. Whatever funds and resources the armed forces will require, that will be provided,” said the Minister.

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