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Pakistan Taliban offensive 'over' | Pakistan Taliban offensive 'over' |
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Pakistan's prime minister has said its military has completed an offensive against the Taliban in the tribal region of South Waziristan. | Pakistan's prime minister has said its military has completed an offensive against the Taliban in the tribal region of South Waziristan. |
Yousuf Raza Gilani told reporters in Lahore the operation might now move north to the Orakzai region, where many militants are thought to have fled. | Yousuf Raza Gilani told reporters in Lahore the operation might now move north to the Orakzai region, where many militants are thought to have fled. |
The Pakistani army has not yet commented on Mr Gilani's remarks. | The Pakistani army has not yet commented on Mr Gilani's remarks. |
However, correspondents say Mr Gilani's words do not mean the army is pulling out of South Waziristan. | However, correspondents say Mr Gilani's words do not mean the army is pulling out of South Waziristan. |
Military sources have told the BBC that the army is still facing pockets of resistance there. | |
The Pakistani military launched its offensive in South Waziristan, in the tribal area bordering Afghanistan, in mid-October. | The Pakistani military launched its offensive in South Waziristan, in the tribal area bordering Afghanistan, in mid-October. |
Air strikes | |
"The operation in South Waziristan is over. Now there are talks about Orakzai," Mr Gilani told reporters in televised remarks on Saturday. | |
The BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad says the prime minister did not elaborate on the scale of any possible offensive in Orakzai, also in the lawless tribal belt. | The BBC's Orla Guerin in Islamabad says the prime minister did not elaborate on the scale of any possible offensive in Orakzai, also in the lawless tribal belt. |
The military operation in South Waziristan was the biggest in years, our correspondent says, with 30,000 troops sent into battle. | The military operation in South Waziristan was the biggest in years, our correspondent says, with 30,000 troops sent into battle. |
The army has managed to drive many militants from their main bases but their leaders have not been arrested and are thought to have escaped into other areas. | |
Hundreds of people have been killed in revenge attacks around Pakistan, she adds. | |
A number of air strikes have targeted militant targets in Orakzai in recent weeks. | A number of air strikes have targeted militant targets in Orakzai in recent weeks. |
The United Nations says more than 40,000 civilians have left their homes in Orakzai and are in need of humanitarian assistance. |