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Pakistan targets Taliban leader | Pakistan targets Taliban leader |
(20 minutes later) | |
Pakistan has ordered its military to carry out an offensive against the Pakistani Taliban leader in the north-west of the country, an official says. | Pakistan has ordered its military to carry out an offensive against the Pakistani Taliban leader in the north-west of the country, an official says. |
Provincial governor Owais Ahmad Ghani said troops had been told to eliminate Baitullah Mehsud and his fighters. | Provincial governor Owais Ahmad Ghani said troops had been told to eliminate Baitullah Mehsud and his fighters. |
Mr Ghani did not say when the operation would begin, but he suggested that it was imminent. | Mr Ghani did not say when the operation would begin, but he suggested that it was imminent. |
Baitullah Mehsud's group are reported to be behind a string of attacks in Pakistan in recent weeks. | Baitullah Mehsud's group are reported to be behind a string of attacks in Pakistan in recent weeks. |
Mr Ghani told reporters in Islamabad: "Baitullah Mehsud is the root cause of all evils." | Mr Ghani told reporters in Islamabad: "Baitullah Mehsud is the root cause of all evils." |
He has been accused of involvement in the death of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto - an accusation he denies. | He has been accused of involvement in the death of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto - an accusation he denies. |
He is also believed to be linked to attacks over the border in Afghanistan. | He is also believed to be linked to attacks over the border in Afghanistan. |
Bomb attack | Bomb attack |
Correspondents say the announcement of the operation in South Waziristan is likely to please the US. | Correspondents say the announcement of the operation in South Waziristan is likely to please the US. |
Washington regards the tribal region as a particularly troublesome hideout for al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters suspected of attacks on US forces in neighbouring Afghanistan. | Washington regards the tribal region as a particularly troublesome hideout for al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters suspected of attacks on US forces in neighbouring Afghanistan. |
Profile: Baitullah Mehsud Long war against Taliban | Profile: Baitullah Mehsud Long war against Taliban |
In the past, Pakistani army action has faltered or ended in truces that correspondents say have strengthened the militants. | In the past, Pakistani army action has faltered or ended in truces that correspondents say have strengthened the militants. |
Analysts say that in many ways a full-scale operation in South Waziristan would be harder than the recent fighting in the Swat valley, where Pakistani troops say they killed hundreds of militants in the past six weeks. | Analysts say that in many ways a full-scale operation in South Waziristan would be harder than the recent fighting in the Swat valley, where Pakistani troops say they killed hundreds of militants in the past six weeks. |
The announcement of the offensive against Baitullah Mehsud came after at least eight people were killed in a bomb attack at a market in the north-western Pakistani town of Dera Ismail Khan. | The announcement of the offensive against Baitullah Mehsud came after at least eight people were killed in a bomb attack at a market in the north-western Pakistani town of Dera Ismail Khan. |
The explosives were reported to have been detonated by remote control after being hidden in a rickshaw. | The explosives were reported to have been detonated by remote control after being hidden in a rickshaw. |
The authorities blamed the attack on supporters of Baitullah Mehsud. | The authorities blamed the attack on supporters of Baitullah Mehsud. |
A spokesman for Mehsud has claimed that his group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, has also been behind several other deadly attacks on Pakistani civilians recently, AFP news agency reported. | A spokesman for Mehsud has claimed that his group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, has also been behind several other deadly attacks on Pakistani civilians recently, AFP news agency reported. |
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