This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/01/world/asia/pakistan-army-begins-ground-assault-on-militants.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Pakistan Army Begins Ground Assault on Militants Pakistan Army Begins Ground Assault on Militants
(35 minutes later)
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The Pakistani military said Monday that it had launched a ground assault in North Waziristan, marking the most determined effort yet to seize control of a lawless tribal district that has become a hub of Islamist militancy.PESHAWAR, Pakistan — The Pakistani military said Monday that it had launched a ground assault in North Waziristan, marking the most determined effort yet to seize control of a lawless tribal district that has become a hub of Islamist militancy.
After two weeks of air and artillery strikes during which over 500,000 people fled the area, soldiers moved into Miram Shah, the main town of North Waziristan, early on Monday, military and intelligence officials said. After two weeks of air and artillery strikes during which more than 500,000 people fled the area, soldiers moved into Miram Shah, the main town of North Waziristan, early on Monday, military and intelligence officials said.
In a statement confirming the operation, the military press office said that infantry and special forces units had carried out house-to-house searches in the town, uncovering militant tunnels and bomb factories. The statement said that 15 militants had been killed and three soldiers wounded in the ground offensive, but did not offer details of the fighting.In a statement confirming the operation, the military press office said that infantry and special forces units had carried out house-to-house searches in the town, uncovering militant tunnels and bomb factories. The statement said that 15 militants had been killed and three soldiers wounded in the ground offensive, but did not offer details of the fighting.
The military was continuing to direct tank and artillery fire on militant targets in Mir Ali, the other major town in North Waziristan, it said.The military was continuing to direct tank and artillery fire on militant targets in Mir Ali, the other major town in North Waziristan, it said.
No independent confirmation of the military’s claim was available. Local and foreign news media outlets are not allowed to enter the volatile tribal region, which is along the border with Afghanistan, and journalists are dependent on official press statements about the developments of the military assault.No independent confirmation of the military’s claim was available. Local and foreign news media outlets are not allowed to enter the volatile tribal region, which is along the border with Afghanistan, and journalists are dependent on official press statements about the developments of the military assault.
The military operation in North Waziristan started on June 15, one week after militants based in the district carried out an audacious assault on Pakistan’s largest airport, in Karachi, that left at least 36 people, including 10 attackers, dead. Last week, suspected Taliban militants attacked a passenger jet as it landed at Peshawar airport, killing a passenger and causing several international airlines to suspend their services to the northwestern city. The military operation in North Waziristan started on June 15, one week after militants based in the district carried out an audacious assault on Pakistan’s largest airport, in Karachi, that left at least 36 people including 10 attackers dead. Last week, suspected Taliban militants attacked a passenger jet as it landed at Peshawar airport, killing a passenger and causing several international airlines to suspend their services to the northwestern city.
In the past decade North Waziristan has become a sanctuary for an array of militant groups including the Pakistani Taliban, the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani network and Al Qaeda. It has borne the brunt of the American drone campaign in Pakistan’s tribal belt, and American officials have frequently pressed Pakistan to shut down the sanctuaries. In the past decade, North Waziristan has become a sanctuary for an array of militant groups including the Pakistani Taliban, the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani network and Al Qaeda. It has borne the brunt of the American drone campaign in Pakistan’s tribal belt, and American officials have frequently pressed Pakistan to shut down the sanctuaries.
The Pakistani Taliban and allied Uzbek militants, both of which claimed responsibility for the Karachi attack, are the principal targets of the current operation, officials say. But the military spokesman has insisted that the operation will also target the Haqqani network, which fights in Afghanistan and has longstanding ties with Pakistani military intelligence.The Pakistani Taliban and allied Uzbek militants, both of which claimed responsibility for the Karachi attack, are the principal targets of the current operation, officials say. But the military spokesman has insisted that the operation will also target the Haqqani network, which fights in Afghanistan and has longstanding ties with Pakistani military intelligence.
Still, reports from different sources suggest that some militants have fled the area in anticipation of the operation.Still, reports from different sources suggest that some militants have fled the area in anticipation of the operation.
Last week, Taliban commanders said that some fighters had moved into nearby South Waziristan, while others were headed for Baluchistan Province, where the Afghan Taliban has long enjoyed sanctuary. An American official said that Haqqani commanders, who appeared to have been tipped off by Pakistani intelligence, had moved into Afghanistan. Last week, Taliban commanders said that some fighters had moved into nearby South Waziristan, while others were headed for Baluchistan Province, where the Afghan Taliban have long enjoyed sanctuary. An American official said that Haqqani commanders, who appeared to have been tipped off by Pakistani intelligence, had moved into Afghanistan.
Still, a fight is looming for the Pakistani military in North Waziristan, a remote area of steep mountains that has thwarted conventional military forces since the British colonial era. Local residents said that Uzbek militants had fled into the thickly-forested mountains of the Shawal Valley, where they may present a serious challenge to the military should the ground operation reach there. Still, a fight is looming for the Pakistani military in North Waziristan, a remote mountainous area that has thwarted conventional military forces since the British colonial era. Local residents said that Uzbek militants had fled into the thickly-forested mountains of the Shawal Valley, where they may present a serious challenge to the military should the ground operation reach there.
More than 30,000 troops, including the paramilitary Frontier Corps and soldiers from the elite Special Services Group are involved in operation Zarb-e-Azb, which means “Strike of the Prophet’s Sword.” The military says that 376 militants and 17 soldiers have been killed in the operation. The Pakistani Taliban has not given an estimate of the death toll. More than 30,000 troops, including the paramilitary Frontier Corps and soldiers from the elite Special Services Group are involved in operation Zarb-e-Azb, which means “Strike of the Prophet’s Sword.” The military says that 376 militants and 17 soldiers have been killed in the operation. The Pakistani Taliban have not given an estimate of the death toll.
For now, the Pakistani drive is concentrated in North Waziristan’s urban areas. An intelligence official said that ground troops backed by tanks, artillery and gunship helicopters launched their attack on Miram Shah at first light, seizing a bus stand and Matches Camp, an area where many Afghans lived before the military offensive.For now, the Pakistani drive is concentrated in North Waziristan’s urban areas. An intelligence official said that ground troops backed by tanks, artillery and gunship helicopters launched their attack on Miram Shah at first light, seizing a bus stand and Matches Camp, an area where many Afghans lived before the military offensive.
“This is the beginning of the search, eliminate, clear and control phase. There is no turning back,” said another security official, also speaking on condition of anonymity. “Troops will be fanning out and clearing the areas in a phased manner.” “This is the beginning of the search, eliminate, clear and control phase. There is no turning back,” said another security official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity. “Troops will be fanning out and clearing the areas in a phased manner.”
The military has so far met with sporadic resistance in Miram Shah, the official said. Three soldiers were wounded in a rocket attack in the town on Sunday, while a second group came under gunfire from a residential area known as Teachers Colony. The military responded with artillery fire that killed eight militants, some of them from Punjab, the official said.The military has so far met with sporadic resistance in Miram Shah, the official said. Three soldiers were wounded in a rocket attack in the town on Sunday, while a second group came under gunfire from a residential area known as Teachers Colony. The military responded with artillery fire that killed eight militants, some of them from Punjab, the official said.
About 500,000 villagers have fled into adjoining Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, creating the country’s biggest conflict-driven humanitarian crisis since 2009. The United Nations says that at least 66,000 people have fled into Khost Province in neighboring Afghanistan.About 500,000 villagers have fled into adjoining Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, creating the country’s biggest conflict-driven humanitarian crisis since 2009. The United Nations says that at least 66,000 people have fled into Khost Province in neighboring Afghanistan.
Inside Pakistan, refugees have complained bitterly about lodging conditions and inadequate facilities provided by the government at local hospitals in northwestern towns.Inside Pakistan, refugees have complained bitterly about lodging conditions and inadequate facilities provided by the government at local hospitals in northwestern towns.