Islamabad, Oct 17 (DPA) A senior Pakistani official said Saturday government forces had started a much-awaited ground offensive against Taliban and Al Qaeda insurgents in the lawless South Waziristan tribal region along the Afghan border.
“Our ground troops have started action in various areas of South Waziristan. They are being supported by the air force,” Sama television quoted Tariq Hayyat Khan, the security head of the tribal region of which South Waziristan is a district, as saying.

The offensive will continue until the terrorists are eliminated, he added.

The operation comes after a series of suicide attacks at security installations across the country that left more than 160 people dead, many of them civilians, in less than two weeks.

The army says around 28,000 soldiers were pitched against 10,000 to 15,000 well-trained and well-equipped guerrilla fighters in the rugged and mountainous district.

An intelligence official said the ground troops, backed by tanks and artillery, were moving from three sides towards the militant strongholds in the district.

“Taliban have also taken positions in the mountains and they are targeting our troops from underground bunkers in the forests,” he added.