Pakistan military faces hit and run 30,000-commando militia of Taliban – Pakistani helicopter gun ships replaced with highflying jets
Sudjir Chadda
Oct. 18, 2009

Pakistani military says it is winning against the Taliban and Al-Queda foreign fighters in the South Waziristan. Reports from the region provides a different picture. Pakistan faces close to 30,000 commoando style militia of Taliban scattered across the 1,275 square miles (3,310 square kilometers) of territory, or about half of South Waziristan, in areas loyal to former militant chief Baitullah Mehsud.

Over the last three months, the Pakistani air force has been bombing targets in South Waziristan, while the army has said it has sealed off many Taliban supply and escape routes. The military has been trying to secure the support of local tribal armies in the fight with very little success.

The Talibans claim they are winning. Pakistani military says they have already killed more than 60 Taliban fighters. As many as 175,000 civilians have left in recent months after the army made clear it was planning an assault, but as many as 400,000 are still be in the region. The biggest problem is that Taliban militia is mingled aroung these 400,000 civilians who are sympathetic to Taliban militia.

It is Pakistan Military’s biggest challenge since Bangladesh war in 1971 against India in which Pakistan unconditionally surrendered. This time things can be different. Taliban militia do not have official support of any country. Pakistan military is much superior to Taliban in number, preparedness, resources, and armor.

Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq told the media reporters from the war zone " We know how to fight this war and defeat the enemy with the minimum loss of our men. This is a war imposed on us and we will defend our land till our last man and our last drop of our blood. This is a war bound to end in the defeat of the Pakistan army." The Taliban claimed to have inflicted "heavy casualties" on the Pakistani army and to have pushed invading soldiers back into their bases.

An indication of the actual state of fight came from a conformed report that Taliban militia has forced Pakistan military to withdraw their helicopter gun ships and replace the same with high-flying Air Force jets. The challenge now is for Pakistani Air Force – can they surgically take out Taliban positions across the hills in high grounds?

Pakistan army is mostly relying on air strikes and artillery against militants occupying high ground. That is difficult without appropriate signal and ground intelligence.

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