In Shift, Pakistan Considers Attack On Militant Lair -- New York Times
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani military, long reluctant to heed American urging that it attack Pakistani militant groups in their main base in North Waziristan, is coming around to the idea that it must do so, in its own interests.
Western officials have long believed that North Waziristan is the single most important haven for militants with Al Qaeda and the Taliban fighting American and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Pakistan has nurtured militant groups in the area for years in order to exert influence beyond its borders.
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My Comment: For the past few years U.S. military and government officials have been pushing Pakistan to conduct this offensive, but the Pakistan Government has always refrained because they knew that such an offensive would produce enormous casualties and a massive refugee crisis.
But with Pakistan's war against its Islamic extremists continuing, the Pakistan Government and military have come to the conclusion that they now have no choice .... they will now need to storm the Taliban's safe sanctuaries in North Waziristan.
The repositioning of thousands of Pakistan troops into Pakistan's Frontier regions has already changed the dynamics on the ground, but when the offensive starts .... and it will start in the next few months .... expect a massive increase in casualties and a spill over effect into Afghanistan.