Pakistan steps up border offensive

[October 19, 2009]  DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Pakistan (AP) -- Troops fought militants on three fronts and fighter jets bombed insurgent positions near the Afghan border Monday as Pakistan pressed ahead with an assault on the country's main Taliban and al-Qaida stronghold.

The army and the Pakistani Taliban have each claimed early victories in South Waziristan, a lawless, semiautonomous region that Islamist extremists use as a base to plot attacks on the Pakistani state, Western troops in Afghanistan and targets in the West.

As the offensive entered its third day, U.S. Central Command chief David Petraeus met Pakistan's prime minister and army chief in the capital, Islamabad. U.S. Sen. John Kerry also met the two Pakistanis to try and ease tensions over an American aid bill that has caused a rift between Pakistan's army and civilian government.

The offensive in South Waziristan is seen as Pakistan's most crucial yet against militants that are in control of a large swath of its northwest close to the Afghan border and have carried out a string of bloody attacks in recent weeks, including a 22-hour siege of army headquarters.

Pakistan troops have been beaten back from the mountainous region there three times since 2004.

Intelligence officials said fighting was going on Monday close to Jandola, Razmak and Wana, three towns where the army has bases. Jets were making bombing runs in the Ladha and Makeen areas, the officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to brief the media on the record.

The army said Sunday that 60 militants and six soldiers have been killed since the offensive began Saturday.

Intelligence officials said eight more militants were killed Monday as they advanced on troops in the Khaisur area.

It is nearly impossible to independently verify what is going on in South Waziristan because the army is blocking access to it and surrounding towns.

The military offensive is focused on eliminating Pakistani Taliban militants linked to the Mehsud tribe, who control roughly 1,275 square miles (3,310 square kilometers) of territory, or about half of South Waziristan. They are blamed for 80 percent of the suicide attacks that have battered Pakistan over the last three years.

Part of the strategy involves striking deals with other militant groups and tribes in the region to ensure they support the fight, or at least stay neutral.

Some 30,000 troops are up against an estimated 10,000 Pakistani militants and about 1,500 foreign fighters.

As many as 150,000 civilians -- possibly more -- have left in recent months after the army made clear it was planning an assault, but some 350,000 people may be left in the region. Authorities say that up to 200,000 people may flee in the coming weeks, but don't expect to have to house them in camps because most have relatives in the region.

"The situation in Waziristan is getting worse and worse every day," said Haji Sherzad Mehsud as he lined up for aid.

Accounts from residents and those fleeing Sunday suggested militant resistance was far tougher than in the Swat Valley, another northwest region where insurgents were overpowered earlier this year. Officials have said they envisage the operation will last two months, when winter weather will make fighting difficult.

The U.S. has rushed to send equipment, such as night-vision goggles, to aid the offensive.

Petraeus, who oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is a regular visitor to Islamabad.

Kerry is the co-sponsor of a bill signed by President Barack Obama last week that gives $1.5 billion annually over five years for economic and social programs. The government supports the bill, but the army and opposition politicians have complained that some of the aid comes with strings attached that amount to American meddling in security affairs.

In a statement, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani said the United States must address the concerns through "tangible initiatives" but said he hoped the conditions attached to the package would not stop Washington handing over the aid. The legislation requires Pakistan to crack down on terrorism and ensure civilian control over the army, among other things.

Also Monday, police said they had arrested a man identified as the head of the Pakistani Taliban in the southern city of Karachi along with three other alleged militants in connection with a foiled attempt to attack an oil terminal last month.

Police officer Waseem Ahmed identified the alleged Karachi Taliban head as Akhtar Zaman. He and the other suspects were arrested in a raid on a building in the western part of the city. Wearing women's burqas, three suspected militants killed a security guard as they tried to enter the oil terminal last month, but fled as police arrived.

[Associated Press; By ISHTIAQ MAHSUD]

Associated Press Writer Zarar Khan in Islamabad contributed to this report.

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