Indefinite curfew imposed in South Waziristan after operation decision

Authorities have enforced indefinite curfew in parts of South Waziristan tribal region after the governments go ahead to start a ground offensive against militants in the Taliban stronghold. The operation is likely to start tomorrow. The operation, likely to begin tomorrow and will be concluded within two months, sources said. The curfew has been enforced since at 7:00 am today in different areas, including Wana, Shakai, etc, where the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe lives. One apparent reason for imposing the curfew is to facilitate the movement of troops and military convoys from Wana and other areas to places populated by the Mehsud tribe, including Makeen, Ladha and Srarogha. There are also reports that the government was planning to expedite the shifting of the civilian population from the Mehsud area in South Waziristan to places like Tank and Dera Ismail Khan, so that security forces could freely tackle the militants without bothering about the civilian casualties. Bombing has already being carried out by fighter planes and gunship helicopters in the area, which the military said was aimed at softening the militants positions, before deploying troops for a massive ground offensive in the tough and mountainous terrain. Soldiers have been deployed along the Afghan border and people have begun leaving South Waziristan.