The Pakistani military offensive in the South Waziristan region of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) entered its fifth day today, with military forces fighting the Taliban and other militants in the towns of Makeen and Ladha, where the fighting is at a fiery pitch. The security forces attacked the these militant stronghold with air strikes from the Pakistan Air Force and the army gunships. At the same time, the Pakistani government has urged NATO to seal off the neighboring Afghanistan border, from where the unrestricted movement of militants, provide them with crucial reinforcements and supplies.

Yesterday’s attack on an Islamic university in Islamabad that killed six people, has been credited to the Pakistan Taliban. Today, the a senior Taliban commander in a message to BBC, accepted responsibility for the attacks and has further stated that, Pakistan is now considered as a complete war zone by the Taliban fighters.

However, the people fleeing the now war torn region of South Waziristan have made it perfectly clear to the Pakistani government that, this time the offensive should be decisive one and not like the one that was initiated in the Swat valley and then withdrawn. Some of the residents have warned the authorities that, if the offensive doe reach its desired end, the Taliban and other fighters will regroup and then it would be almost impossible to stop their attacks and hit their hideouts. Even now, most of the militants have taken up defensive positions in heavily fortified locations, thereby giving a glimpse of Taliban’s capabilities and willingness to destabilize Pakistan and the neighboring countries.

Via Reuters.