This Article is From Oct 16, 2009

Pakistan intensifies anti-Taliban offensive

Pakistan intensifies anti-Taliban offensive
Lahore: Pakistan has intensified its anti-Taliban offensive after Thursday's serial attacks in which 40 people were killed. (Read: Pakistan: Taliban kill 40 in serial attacks)

Pakistan warplanes are bombing suspected Taliban outposts in the South Waziristan tribal region bordering Afghanistan.

27 people have reportedly been killed in the heavy bombing.

Residents said jets carried out repeated sorties in the area, considered a stronghold of Taliban militants.

Tens of thousands of civilians are fleeing the area fearing that the government will now finally launch its all out offensive that has been hotly anticipated for months but has so far failed to materialise.

Pakistan has been hit by a series of high-profile attacks that have killed more than 160 people nationwide in 11 days.

The government in June ordered an operation into the mountainous northwest stronghold of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, but so far only air raids and occasional artillery strikes have hit rebel strongholds.

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