Finally, after months of preparations, and way too late the PAKISTANI ARMY launched, on Saturday 10/17/2009, its long time expected military operation against Tehrik-e-Taleban -TTP in South Waziristan. South Waziristan is also the region, where according to solid evidence, many high ranking Al Qaeda leaders are operating relatively undisturbed (see – Aleem Nasir). 

The Pakistani army was actually forced to the operation by a string of audacious attacks committed by TTP in the last two weeks, using New-Tactics, which caused major embracement to the Pakistani regime and army. Eventually the operation was timed by Hakimullah Mehsud, the leader of TTP, which means he is fully prepared and probably already sneaked out from the region.

Basically the operation is a copycat of the previous operation against Baitullah Mehsud, the former Tehrik-e-Taleban –TTP leader, carried out in 04/2008, after which the Pakistani Army claimed that they finally dismantled part of the infrastructure feeding a campaign of suicide attacks in the country (see – Double-Standard).

The Pakistani army is using the inefficient tactic of sealing of the region and pounding it with air strikes and artillery before moving in under heavy artillery cover. From the reach experience of many armies in the world in the last decade it is, indeed, a safe tactic fort the army but with poor results in routing out guerilla and terror.

It is assumed that the targets are villages and places populated by tribesmen loyal to Hakimullah Mehsud, since there are not purely military locations used solely by the Tehrik-e-Taleban –TTP to commit their terror offensive. Like in many other places the militants are part and fully mingled in the civilian population among women and children. 

The Pakistani army operation will bring upon heavy suffering to the civilian population and already over 150,000 fled South Waziristan to be refugees in their own country, but its efficiency against the Islamic militants, in the longer run, is doubtful.

Tehrik-e-Taleban –TTP is a very wander and fluid organization. It can operate from everywhere in Pakistan and does not need a special location but a supportive population.

The most efficient way to cope with Tehrik-e-Taleban is to take on the Pakistani Taliban simultaneously and coordinated all over the country at the same time. Many TTP fled Swat District in 05/2009, to other provinces such as Bajaur, North Waziristan and South Waziristan (see - Swat-Crisis), now many of them already moved to new places among the Pashtu tribes, regrouping and preparing themselves to confront the Pakistani regime at the place and the time they will choose.  

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18/10/2009 09:39:19