Ground offensive aims to uproot militants along Afghan border

Pakistan's security forces are continuing their major ground offensive against al-Qaida and the Taliban. The offensive comes after two weeks' of militant attacks, which have killed at least 175 people.

Pakistan army spokesman Athar Abbas says the operation began at 3.00am local time Saturday in the South Waziristan tribal area near the Afghanistan border.

About 30,000 soldiers are ready to take on an estimated 10,000 hard-core Taliban militants. About 500 commandos arrived in the region on Friday.

Abbas says the operation is likely to continue for 6 to 8 weeks, but no final deadline has been given. It aims to uproot the Pakistan Taliban.

Ordinary Pakistanis agree the counter-offensive is necessary.

Shabbir Ahmad, a shoeshine operator, said, "Yes, of course it should be carried out. It is very important. Our Muslim brothers are dying in great numbers. Terrorism is widespread. This thing has to be flushed out of the country."

Pakistan Army troops prepare to leave for  patrolling during a curfew in Bannu, a town on  the edge of Pakistan's lawless tribal belt  Waziristan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. More than  30,000 Pakistani soldiers launched a much-awaited  ground offensive in an al-Qaida and Taliban  stronghold of South Waziristan along the Afghan  border, officials told The Associated Press -  the nuclear-armed U.S. ally's toughest test yet  against militants aiming to topple the state. (AP Photo/Ijaz Muhammad)