28 February 2014

Pakistan launches military operation against militants

February 25th, 2014
By Jim Sciutto

With Pakistan suffering from terrorist attacks "left, right and center," a senior Pakistani government official said Tuesday a massive military operation is underway in North Waziristan to "close the chapter" on the Haqqani network in Pakistan.

When the operation is complete, the Haqqani network will "reach a conclusion" in Pakistani territory, the official said.

A recent wave of terror attacks has claimed more than 200 lives in the last month alone, according to the official.

And while the Pakistani government is still involved in reconciliation talks with Pakistani militant groups, "while they are talking, they are killing people," the official said.

The overall aim of the offensive is to push the Haqqani network out of Pakistan and across the border into Afghanistan, where, the official explained, "People on the other side can receive them," a reference to US and Afghan forces.

Asked if U.S. forces were involved in the operation, the official said only through routine communication at the tactical level between commanders on either side of the border.

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