Attack does not deter Pakistan offensive against Taliban, Al Qaeda

BBC:

Pakistan will launch an operation against militants in restive South Waziristan "imminently", Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said.

He was speaking after troops stormed a building at an army base in Rawalpindi, rescuing dozens of people taken hostage in an attack by militants.

Mr Malik blamed the attack, in which 19 died, on the Taliban and al-Qaeda whose strongholds are in South Waziristan.

One militant, thought to be the group's leader, was arrested.

Mr Malik said the government had given its approval to an operation in South Waziristan, and it was now up to the army to decide on its timing.

"The operation is imminent," he said, according to Reuters news agency.

The army has been preparing for a major operation in South Waziristan since it successfully cleared the Swat valley of militants in September.

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The failure of the attack to deter the army is much more apparent now than it was earlier this weekend when many reporters were talking about the success of the attacks.