Pak Army faces massive militant force in Waziristan if Mehsud aligns with tribes: Report

Washington, July 1 (ANI): The Pakistan Army is planning an offensive against the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) chief Baitullah Mehsud in his stronghold South Waziristan, but it seems that it is unaware of the massive threat that the region has in store.

The military will have to face a formidable army of extremists if Mehsud join hands with the militant commanders of North Waziristan, The Christian Science Monitor reported an analysis in the Long War Journal, as saying.

The fears of the Taliban teaming up with the tribal leaders of North Waziristan has increased manifold, particularly after reports of the peace accord in the region being severed surfaced.

The Army must tackle these tribal commanders, the Bahadar, the Haqqanis, and Nazir, if it wants to succeed against Mehsud, as they have a combined force of 50,000 fighters, the analysis said.

These tribals leaders also run a number of terror training camps, and have been providing safe havens to Al-Qaeda and other extremist organizations.

So, the Pakistan Army must prepare itself to tackle an estimated force of 30,000 fighters under Mehsud's command, backed by thousands of insurgents in the unfavorable rough terrains of Waziristan, the analysis concluded. (ANI)