On October 19, Dawn reported a triumphant army press release: “Security forces claimed to have made steady gains in their assaults on militants’ strongholds in South Waziristan and army officials said they were surprised by the low level of resistance... A Taliban spokesman acknowledged the army had launched a multi-pronged attack.” The News on October 19 reported: “The police conducted a search operation in seminaries being run illegally and raided some religious academies suspected by intelligence agencies for their involvement in suspicious activities.” A piece in The News had the potential to open a can of worms for the US inside Pakistan. On October 19, it stated: “The US-led Nato forces vacated more than half a dozen key security checkposts on the Afghan side of the Pak-Afghan border just ahead of Operation Rah-e- Nijaat... It is feared it will facilitate the Afghan Taliban in crossing over to Pakistan and supporting militants in striking back at the Pakistani security forces in the tribal area... The NWFP government, civilian and military officials have been astonished by this move and more so intrigued by its timing... Some see it as a tactical move by the US to ward off pressure from its own forces in Afghanistan...”

In what appears to be a marriage of convenience between the army and a wartribe, Dawn, reported on October 20 that “Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani has sought support of Mehsud tribes in the operation — He made it clear the operation wasn’t meant to target the ‘valiant and patriotic’ Mehsud tribes, but aimed at ridding them of the elements who had destroyed peace in the region. He said the targets were Uzbek terrorists, foreign elements and local militants.” Daily Times added: “The army has distributed leaflets in South Waziristan stating ‘the aim is to provide an opportunity to the Mehsud tribe to live in peace.’ ” An editorial in The News observed: “The Ahmedzai Wazir tribe has been able to convince Taliban leader Maulvi Nazir to stay neutral and not to throw in his lot with Hakimullah Mehsud — but his neutrality came at a price. The NWFP government has agreed to demands made by the Ahmedzai Wazirs, including the reopening of blockaded roads and the launch of several high-value development schemes in their areas.”

... contd.