Ground offensive “imminent” says Islamabad

Another Pakistani police station has been attacked, this time in the northwestern provincial capital of Peshawar. It is close to the mountainous tribal areas along the Afghan border where an estimated 10,000 hardcore Taliban militants are dug in awaiting a ground offensive by the Pakistani army.

12 people including two children were killed in the latest attack, and the police station was severely damaged by the suicide car bomber, who drew up outside before detonating his device. As the army’s artillery and aerial bombardment of Taliban positons intensifies the government, which was reportedly briefed on Friday by army chief General Ashfaq Kayani, has announced the ground offensive is imminent. 28,000 troops have massed in readiness to take Islamabad’s fight deep into the heart of South Waziristan, the Taliban’s stronghold. The softening-up operation has been concentrating on suspected Taliban positions around Ladha, Makeen, and Shahoor. Some 80,000 people have left the area ahead of the offensive. The army says some Taliban militants are attempting to flee in disguise among the civilians.More about: Attack, Pakistan, Taliban, Terrorism

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