Hundreds of foreign militants on run: Pakistan army
Hundreds of foreign fighters were on the run in this battle-scarred region near Afghanistan Sunday, the military said, pressing a major offensive into a third week.
Between 600 and 800 foreign militants had been in around Kanigurram town but their resistance was broken by heavy bombing from jet fighters, helicopters and artillery, Brigadier Mohammad Ihsan told reporters on a visit to the normally closed conflict area.
Commanders have described Kanigurram as a major Tehreek-e-Taliban "operational centre" and base for Uzbek fighters.
"They are on the run," Ihsan said.
The foreigners were mostly Uzbeks but also Chechens and Arabs, he added.
They may have made a strategic withdrawal but the military is prepared for any guerrilla attacks the militants may mount, Ihsan said.
Analysts say Uzbeks are the largest group among foreign Islamist militants backing Taliban fighters in Pakistan. Pakistan's 'desperate' Uzbek fighters far from home
Pakistani forces on October 17 began their offensive in South Waziristan to clear the area of "terrorists".
The district is part of a lawless tribal belt on the Afghan border where US officials say Al-Qaeda and their allies are plotting attacks on the West.
Around 30,000 troops are taking part in the offensive against an estimated 10,000-12,000 militants in the semi-autonomous region.
"Search and clearance operation of Kanigurram has commenced and 50 percent of the town has been cleared," the military said in a statement.
The military said it was expecting resistance to the east in a militant "stronghold" of Sararogha, which government troops had begun surrounding.
Although the military provides the only regular information coming from the frontlines, none of the details can be verified because communication lines are down and journalists are barred from the area except under military escort.
Reporters travelling with the military through areas under military control on Sunday observed damaged houses and markets as well as signs that improvised explosive devices had exploded.
Roads were also marked with the tracks of armoured vehicles.
Latest casualties reported in Sunday's military statement bring to 306 the number of insurgents and 36 the number of soldiers reported killed since the operation began.
"The direct operation will take one to two months," Ihsan said.
Up to 250,000 people have fled the fighting, an official said Sunday.
Numerous previous offensives in the tribal belt have had limited success, costing the lives of 2,000 troops and ending generally with peace agreements that critics say gave the insurgents a chance to re-arm.
