Pakistan - Waziristan fighting

Up to 100,000 flee anti-Taliban offensive

Article published on the 2009-10-14 Latest update 2009-10-14 15:04 TU

Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud (C) in South Waziristan on 4 October
(Photo: Reuters/Dawn TV)

Families are fleeing Pakistan's South Waziristan tribal region to join 90,000 others who had already left the area before last weekend's violence. The refugees say they expect the military to launch a ground offensive against the Taliban, after several months of aerial bombardment.

The authorities in the city of Dera Ismail Khan had already registered 90,000 people displaced by the conflict since 1 August. More have poured out of the area since this weekend's hostage siege at army headquarters. That has been followed by several other attacks bringing the last few days' death toll to 125.

Journalists report seeing families entering the city in cars and lorries with their possessions packed into the vehicles. The refugees reported food shortages due to army roadblocks.

Last June the military said that it would launch an offensive in the area, which serves as a base for Pakistani and Afghan Taliban, as well as Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda.

So far only air strikes and occasional artillery fire have been used. But military officials say they  are "softening up" the targets and have put the area under siege in preparation for a ground offensive.

"The troops have been moved to the area and the army chief visited South Waziristan yesterday and now it will be only a matter of time," says correspondent Behroz Khan.

The army is not giving anything away at the moment, he says, particularly because the operation is likely to be arduous, he says.

"This area is a mountainous area, it is difficult terrain, and the militants will be playing on their own soil."

Six or seven rebels were killed by aerial bombing of Ladha town on Wednesday, officials say, adding that Makeen and Nawazkot were also hit for the fourth consecutive day.

New Pakistani Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud has sworn to avenge the 5 August drone strike which killed his predecessor, Baitullah Mehsud.

Nearly two million people fled the Swat valley during an anti-Taliban offensive earlier this year. Most have since returned.

In Beijing, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani claimed that his government is making tangible headway against the rebels. He was attending the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation, which groups China, Russia and other Asian countries and asked for Pakistan to be granted full membership of the group.