Pakistan: 1000 Taliban Dead in Swat Offensive

Militants regroup further north in a different district

(NEWSER) - Good news from Pakistan's prime minister in the fight against the Taliban—the army has driven the militants from South Waziristan after a 3-month campaign. The bad news: The Taliban appear to have regrouped a little further north in a district called Orakza, reports BBC . "The operation in South Waziristan is over," said Yousuf Raza Gilani. "Now there are talks about Orakza." More»

Fourth terror attack in a week rocks nation

(NEWSER) - Yet another massive bomb has struck a market in Pakistan, this time killing 41 people. The blast in the Shangla district is the fourth terrorist attack in just over a week. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, carried out before an expected US-backed offensive in the al-Qaeda and Taliban stronghold of South Waziristan. The Taliban claimed responsibility today for the weekend siege of Pakistan's army headquarters in which 30 hostages were seized. More»

(AP) - Pakistani soldiers arrested the spokesman for the Taliban in the Swat Valley and four other commanders, striking the first direct blow against the leadership of the insurgency in the one-time tourist resort. The capture of spokesman Muslim Khan and the others could be a big blow to the Taliban's hopes of staging a comeback in the region, which borders Afghanistan. More»

Baitullah Mehsud blamed for several recent attacks

(NEWSER) - Pakistan is launching a manhunt for Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud—branded "the root cause of all evils," by one official—in its tribal areas bordering Afghanistan. Pakistan officials blame Mehsud's group for a string of recent attacks, the BBC reports. The heavy military offensive is expected to please the US, though previous plans have often faltered or ended in truces that ended up strengthening the militants. More»

(NEWSER) - Pakistan’s defense secretary says the army will crush Taliban militants in the Swat Valley within days, the BBC reports. Just "5% to 10% of the job" is left, Syed Athar Ali told an Asian forum, though an army spokesman declined to give an actual timeline. Meanwhile, 40 rebels and four soldiers were killed in fighting near the Afghan border. More»