Pakistan's Army Launches A Major Offensive Against Militants In North

June 28, 2008 10:00 a.m. EST

Islamabad, Pakistan (AHN) - Pakistan's army has deployed paramilitary troops on Saturday launching a major offensive against Taliban fighters in the north western city, military officials said.

Pakistani forces reportedly attacked suspected militant hideouts as a part of a clean-up operation in a tribal district outside the northwestern provincial capital of Peshawar.

Khyber tribal area is the country's most volitile region that has experienced rise in the number of militant activities in the past few months, according to the officials.

The district, which is also an important route for U.S. military supplies into neighboring Afghanistan, has been dominated by the insurgents that are loyal to local Islamist leader Mangal Bagh.

Witnesses said security officers had blocked the road towards Afghanistan and heavy contingents of troops were patrolling the street as they imposed a curfew and ordered shops to shut.

The operation is one of the major military step taken by the newly elected government to increase security in the region and reduce the number of cross-border attacks in to Afghanistan led by the local militants.

Early this month, Afghanistan had warned Pakistan for eleminating Taliban militants based within their border, who have clashed with the security troops as well as the local policemen in the past.