Pakistan military 'blows apart' Taliban network

Commander vows to prevent return of insurgents to North Waziristan

A military offensive in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region may have blown apart the network of the Pakistani Taliban and foreign militants. The country has seen a substantial decrease in attacks and fatalities in recent months, according to a military spokesman.

The Taliban's ongoing deadly attacks spurred the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to go after the insurgents in their key sanctuary, North Waziristan, in June after a temporary cease-fire expired. The 40-day cease-fire was declared in March as the government sought a last-ditch effort for peace and had started talks with the Taliban.

Sharif received widespread support from the major political parties and the Pakistani parliament for the military operation. The public also threw its weight behind the decision because the Taliban's violent extremism had resulted in large-scale killings and huge economic losses.

Top military leaders are satisfied with the outcome of the operation over the past three months as security forces have cleared Taliban fighters out of most areas in major towns.

The spokesman for the military, Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa, said that about 1,000 militants have been killed so far, and dozens of their training centers and bomb-making factories have been destroyed. Most of the main towns, including Miranshah, the region's leading city, and Mir Ali, a former stronghold of the militants, have been cleared, and that the government's forces have consolidated positions.

Some Taliban fighters are thought to have either fled to neighboring Afghanistan or moved to nearby tribal regions.

One result of the operation is a substantial decrease in suicide attacks and bomb blasts in the country since the operation was launched three months ago. The Taliban threat has subsided but has not been eliminated.

Insurgents have carried out several attacks on the country's three airports in retaliation for the military operation. However, a sense of fear among the general public that had gripped Pakistan has been substantially relieved.

The much-anticipated operation surged into what was previously described "safe havens" in North Waziristan. Many Taliban fighters have either been killed or have fled the region. Pakistan's army chief, General Raheel Sharif, who twice visited North Waziristan, vowed to prevent the militants' return.

The operation also led to fissures within the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, as the banned group is now divided into at least four groups, the military said. The internal rift has weakened the outfit, and it is not in a position to pose a serious challenge to the security forces.

The TTP leaders have reportedly seen infighting in recent weeks. A splinter group allegedly killed nearly 200 Taliban militants, including several senior commanders.

A senior Taliban leader who was heading the group in Punjab province announced on Saturday that he has ceased his militancy and will now preach a "peaceful Islam". Political watchers described the dramatic announcement by Asmatullah Muaweya as a significant outcome of the military operation.

(China Daily 09/17/2014 page11)