Military targets N. Waziristan
June 15, 2014
An army statement issued Sunday said, "Our valiant armed forces have been tasked to eliminate these terrorists regardless of hue and color, along with their sanctuaries." The statement said the offensive was started at the direction of the government of Pakistan.
There was no immediate information on how many troops were involved or what the operation would entail.
The announcement follows earlier reports of airstrikes Sunday on insurgent hideouts in North Waziristan, killing at least 80 militants. Local security officials, however, put the death toll higher at about 150 militants.
The tribal region is near the Afghan border and home to a mix of local and al Qaeda-linked foreign militants. It is one of the last tribal areas where the military has not launched a large military operation.
An operation in the area has long been pushed by Pakistan's Western allies, including the United States. The region is used by militants as a sanctuary from which to attack NATO and Afghan troops in neighboring Afghanistan.
Officials said the operation on Sunday was in response to a brazen attack on the Karachi airport last week that killed at least 36 people.
hc/tj (Reuters, AP, AFP)