Pakistan launches coordinated attack on Mehsud

Guardian:

The Pakistani army has launched a blistering air and ground assault on the mountain stronghold of Baitullah Mehsud, the Taliban commander accused of orchestrating the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, as a battle for control of the lawless region near the Afghan border intensifies.

The onslaught follows months of sporadic clashes in Waziristan, where Islamists have embarrassed Pakistani forces in recent weeks, and comes amid growing pressure from the US, which finances the operations against the extremists.

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Hundreds of soldiers supported by tanks, helicopter gunships and a multi-pronged artillery barrage encircled Mehsud's home territory in South Waziristan, sending refugees fleeing into North West Frontier province, some on foot. The death toll was heavy but disputed. The army said it killed 40 militants and captured 30. A Mehsud spokesman said he lost seven militants but killed 25 soldiers.

It was the most concerted drive yet against Mehsud, variously tagged as a religious warrior, suicide bombing godfather and the architect of Bhutto's death. Last week the CIA director, Michael Hayden, supported government allegations linking him to the assassination. "This was done by the network around Baitullah Mehsud. We have no reason to question that," he told the Washington Post.

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The assault comes a week after hundreds of Mehsud fighters stormed a military fortification in South Waziristan, killing at least seven officers from the Frontier Constabulary, a lightly armed tribal police force. "It triggered the whole thing," said army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas. "There was an understanding [with the militants] there would be no attacks on security forces. They broke it."

Preparations for the attack included a blockade of fuel and food supplies to Mehsud territory and considerable secrecy. Last week a French journalist who filmed an army convoy rolling towards Waziristan was detained for 24 hours, interrogated, and forced to delete video footage.

The battle zone is barred to foreign journalists and considered too risky by local media, but reports are filtering out. Veteran tribal journalist Sailab Mehsud said the army was attacking with artillery guns stationed at six locations on three sides of Mehsud territory. Two nights ago Mehsud rallied his troops with a radio broadcast, a local source said. "It is an order from God that you continue the fight. You must struggle until your last breath," he said.

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The attacks are overdue, but appear to be well planned. The use of air, ground, artillery and armor in the assault should mean success for the army forces if they execute properly. The Bhutto faction is already trying to undercut the effort because they want to blame the assassination on the government rather than the Taliban even though there is significant evidence suggest Mehsud was behind the plot.