A senior official in the Pakistani army says recent gains by
anti-insurgency forces are weakening the Taliban and have reduced the
number of terrorist attacks in the country.
Speaking with VOA in Islamabad, Major-General Athar Abbas said the
military is concentrating in the South Waziristan tribal region that
borders Afghanistan, calling it the militants' "center of gravity." He
said the army is carrying out small assaults on training centers,
hideouts and other targets in the area.
The international community has increasingly pressured Pakistan to
launch a major ground offensive in that region, which General Abbas
said hosts many foreign militants. But he warned that a stronger
offensive in South Waziristan could anger tribesman and provoke a
widespread uprising.
In other news Wednesday, security forces say they have detained two
suspected terrorists and a would-be suicide bomber during operations in
Swat.
In a statement released Wednesday, military officials say 21 suspected terrorists have also voluntarily surrendered.