Pakistan Army Launches Ground Assault - -Washington PostIntel: Attack Aimed at Rooting Out Insurgents in South Waziristan Tribal Region
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct. 17 -- Pakistan's army launched a ground offensive Saturday morning aimed at rooting out Islamist insurgents in the lawless tribal region of South Waziristan, an intelligence official in the area said.
The military had been planning the operation for months, amassing nearly 30,000 troops in the area and attempting to soften targets with aerial strikes. Military officials and security experts estimate that between 5,000 and 10,000 "hardcore" Taliban and al-Qaeda insurgents are based in the area, which the United States views as a terrorism hub and has targeted with unmanned drone strikes.
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Update: Analysis: What lies ahead in Waziristan -- Long War Journal
My Comment: This is the fourth time in the past few years that the Pakistan Army is trying to subdue this region .... and I expect the same result as before.
Using only 30,000 soldiers is an adequate force to attack an enemy that some have estimated to be 15,000 hard-core militants (not 5,000 - 10,000). These militants also know the terrain, and probably have supporters throughout the region that can inform them on when the Pakistani military is moving. I expect heavy fighting in the next few weeks, but little if any forward progress on the ground for the Pakistani military. Winter is also quickly approaching .... which will probably stop all military operations in the next few weeks.
There is now worldwide publicity and news on this operation .... but I am not impressed. For me, all of this is too little and too late.