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| Pakistani Forces Begin Assault on Militant Strongholds | Pakistani Forces Begin Assault on Militant Strongholds |
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| LONDON — For a decade now, the tribal town of Miram Shah in North Waziristan has been a slow-burning embarrassment to the Pakistani military. | |
| Right at the gates of an army base, Taliban kidnappers used the town telephone exchange to make ransom demands. Suicide bombers bided their time in high-walled compounds there before attacking Pakistan’s major cities. Notorious militants like the former Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud kept houses a few miles from the base. | Right at the gates of an army base, Taliban kidnappers used the town telephone exchange to make ransom demands. Suicide bombers bided their time in high-walled compounds there before attacking Pakistan’s major cities. Notorious militants like the former Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud kept houses a few miles from the base. |
| Those factors made Miram Shah a magnet for jihadists from across the region, and the world — Punjabi sectarian killers, Uighurs fighting China, Al Qaeda commanders plotting mayhem in the West. “The bazaar is bustling with Chechens, Uzbeks, Russians, Bosnians, some from E.U. countries, and of course our Arab brothers,” David Headley, an American who joined the Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, wrote in a 2009 email. | Those factors made Miram Shah a magnet for jihadists from across the region, and the world — Punjabi sectarian killers, Uighurs fighting China, Al Qaeda commanders plotting mayhem in the West. “The bazaar is bustling with Chechens, Uzbeks, Russians, Bosnians, some from E.U. countries, and of course our Arab brothers,” David Headley, an American who joined the Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, wrote in a 2009 email. |
| The Pakistani military moved to erase that blemish early Monday, when soldiers fanned out across the town, occupying bus stands and shops as they began wresting the town from militant control. | The Pakistani military moved to erase that blemish early Monday, when soldiers fanned out across the town, occupying bus stands and shops as they began wresting the town from militant control. |
| Infantry and special forces units moved from house to house, uncovering networks of tunnels and bomb factories, the military said in a statement. At least 15 militants were killed and three soldiers injured in sporadic exchanges of gun and rocket fire, it said, in an account that could not be independently verified. | Infantry and special forces units moved from house to house, uncovering networks of tunnels and bomb factories, the military said in a statement. At least 15 militants were killed and three soldiers injured in sporadic exchanges of gun and rocket fire, it said, in an account that could not be independently verified. |
| The sweep through Miram Shah marked the second phase of a broader operation against the Pakistani Taliban and allied militants in North Waziristan. For the past two weeks, the military unleashed air and artillery strikes as up to 500,000 civilians fled the area for neighboring districts. | The sweep through Miram Shah marked the second phase of a broader operation against the Pakistani Taliban and allied militants in North Waziristan. For the past two weeks, the military unleashed air and artillery strikes as up to 500,000 civilians fled the area for neighboring districts. |
| More than 30,000 troops are said to be involved in the North Waziristan operation, ostensibly prompted by a deadly militant assault on Pakistan’s largest airport, in Karachi, on June 8. But military officials said the offensive had been in the works for months, as government-led peace talks with the Taliban faltered, then collapsed. | More than 30,000 troops are said to be involved in the North Waziristan operation, ostensibly prompted by a deadly militant assault on Pakistan’s largest airport, in Karachi, on June 8. But military officials said the offensive had been in the works for months, as government-led peace talks with the Taliban faltered, then collapsed. |
| Information on the fighting, however, is highly limited. Waziristan is a restricted and perilous area for journalists in normal times, and in recent weeks the military has pushed even local reporters out. | Information on the fighting, however, is highly limited. Waziristan is a restricted and perilous area for journalists in normal times, and in recent weeks the military has pushed even local reporters out. |
| In its news release on Monday, the military press office said that 376 militants and 17 soldiers had been killed in fighting so far. The Pakistani Taliban, whose forces have reportedly fled towns like Miram Shah for the thickly forested mountains of North Waziristan or safer neighboring districts, have not offered a toll. | In its news release on Monday, the military press office said that 376 militants and 17 soldiers had been killed in fighting so far. The Pakistani Taliban, whose forces have reportedly fled towns like Miram Shah for the thickly forested mountains of North Waziristan or safer neighboring districts, have not offered a toll. |
| The Pakistani military’s implicit claim that no civilians have died seems unlikely, particularly given its track record of such casualties in previous campaigns in the tribal belt. Refugees from Waziristan told of a more indiscriminate assault. | The Pakistani military’s implicit claim that no civilians have died seems unlikely, particularly given its track record of such casualties in previous campaigns in the tribal belt. Refugees from Waziristan told of a more indiscriminate assault. |
| In Peshawar on Saturday, a 15-year-old girl named Zubana lay on a hospital bed at the Khyber Teaching Hospital, her mother and two brothers at her side. Her lower body was swathed in bandages that covered what doctors described as serious burns. She moaned from pain as she spoke. | In Peshawar on Saturday, a 15-year-old girl named Zubana lay on a hospital bed at the Khyber Teaching Hospital, her mother and two brothers at her side. Her lower body was swathed in bandages that covered what doctors described as serious burns. She moaned from pain as she spoke. |
| “I was preparing lunch for my husband when there was an explosion, and the room went on fire,” said Zubana, who has just one name. “I don’t know what happened after that. My mother says our house was destroyed. I wish I had died.” | “I was preparing lunch for my husband when there was an explosion, and the room went on fire,” said Zubana, who has just one name. “I don’t know what happened after that. My mother says our house was destroyed. I wish I had died.” |
| Her mother, Toraan, said her daughter looked like a piece of “burned coal” when she rescued her from the rubble of their home in Khaisoor Zar, south of Mir Ali town. She believed the army had carried out an airstrike near their house. “We saw big planes in the sky that suddenly started dropping bombs,” she said. | Her mother, Toraan, said her daughter looked like a piece of “burned coal” when she rescued her from the rubble of their home in Khaisoor Zar, south of Mir Ali town. She believed the army had carried out an airstrike near their house. “We saw big planes in the sky that suddenly started dropping bombs,” she said. |
| The attack occurred on June 9, one day after the militant assault on Karachi airport, she said. On that day, the military reported retaliatory airstrikes in Khyber district, 100 miles to the northeast, but none around Mir Ali. But it is not unusual for military actions in the secluded tribal belt to go unreported. | The attack occurred on June 9, one day after the militant assault on Karachi airport, she said. On that day, the military reported retaliatory airstrikes in Khyber district, 100 miles to the northeast, but none around Mir Ali. But it is not unusual for military actions in the secluded tribal belt to go unreported. |
| For now, the fighting is concentrated in the towns of North Waziristan, Miram Shah and Mir Ali, where military experts say they expect Pakistani soldiers to face relatively light resistance. The fight is expected to be harder, however, if they push into the surrounding mountains. | For now, the fighting is concentrated in the towns of North Waziristan, Miram Shah and Mir Ali, where military experts say they expect Pakistani soldiers to face relatively light resistance. The fight is expected to be harder, however, if they push into the surrounding mountains. |
| The determined military drive follows years of American pressure to crack down on militant havens in North Waziristan, which has been the target of at least 273 Central Intelligence Agency drone strikes since 2004 — more than any other area in the world. | The determined military drive follows years of American pressure to crack down on militant havens in North Waziristan, which has been the target of at least 273 Central Intelligence Agency drone strikes since 2004 — more than any other area in the world. |
| American officials suspected that Pakistan’s reluctance to fight in Waziristan stemmed from the military’s desire to protect the Haqqani network, a formidable fighting group that is a central element of the Afghan insurgency and enjoys longstanding ties with the military’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency. Pakistani generals have staunchly denied any collusion with the Haqqanis, but have admitted that their spies maintain contacts with the group. | American officials suspected that Pakistan’s reluctance to fight in Waziristan stemmed from the military’s desire to protect the Haqqani network, a formidable fighting group that is a central element of the Afghan insurgency and enjoys longstanding ties with the military’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency. Pakistani generals have staunchly denied any collusion with the Haqqanis, but have admitted that their spies maintain contacts with the group. |
| Whatever the exact nature of that relationship, in launching the North Waziristan ground assault, Pakistani officials seem to have acknowledged that allowing militants to control a major town was bad news for their own country, as well as for the West. | Whatever the exact nature of that relationship, in launching the North Waziristan ground assault, Pakistani officials seem to have acknowledged that allowing militants to control a major town was bad news for their own country, as well as for the West. |
| North Waziristan’s jihadi influx started in 2001. Jihadis first fled the American invasion of Afghanistan, then later, as the area became a rear base for the Taliban insurgency, they arrived to join the fight against NATO and Afghan forces. But the proliferation of jihadis also strengthened Pakistan’s homegrown Taliban fighters, who drew money and inspiration from the foreign visitors, emboldening them to form a formidable threat to the Pakistani state. | North Waziristan’s jihadi influx started in 2001. Jihadis first fled the American invasion of Afghanistan, then later, as the area became a rear base for the Taliban insurgency, they arrived to join the fight against NATO and Afghan forces. But the proliferation of jihadis also strengthened Pakistan’s homegrown Taliban fighters, who drew money and inspiration from the foreign visitors, emboldening them to form a formidable threat to the Pakistani state. |
| The potency of that challenge was underscored by the June 8 attack on the Karachi airport, and, more recently, an attack on a landing passenger jet at Peshawar airport that killed one passenger and caused several airlines to suspend their services to the area. | The potency of that challenge was underscored by the June 8 attack on the Karachi airport, and, more recently, an attack on a landing passenger jet at Peshawar airport that killed one passenger and caused several airlines to suspend their services to the area. |
| Monday’s assault on Miram Shah included the mobilization of tanks, artillery and gunship helicopters in support of infantry forces, a senior security official said in Peshawar, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “This is the beginning of the search, eliminate, clear and control phase,” he said. “There is no turning back.” | Monday’s assault on Miram Shah included the mobilization of tanks, artillery and gunship helicopters in support of infantry forces, a senior security official said in Peshawar, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “This is the beginning of the search, eliminate, clear and control phase,” he said. “There is no turning back.” |
| The other challenge is humanitarian in nature. About 500,000 villagers have fled into the 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 also fled into Khost Province in neighboring Afghanistan. | The other challenge is humanitarian in nature. About 500,000 villagers have fled into the 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 also 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. |