Pakistan army launches Waziristan operation, 12 militants killed

ISLAMABAD, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's security forces Saturday launched the long-awaited operation in South Waziristan, the stronghold of Taliban in Pakistan, the Pakistani army said.

The army spokesman Athar Abbas said the operation started at 3:00 local time (2100 GMT) Saturday morning in South Waziristan tribal agency near the border with Afghanistan.

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. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

The army said about 30,000 soldiers are in place to take on an estimated 10,000 hard-core Taliban militants in the lawless area. About 500 commandos arrived in the region on Friday, security officials said.

Abbas said the operation is launched in six tehsils of the area and is likely to continue for six to eight weeks, but no final deadline can be given.

Local TV reports said the security forces killed 12 militants in the first day of the operation in South Waziristan.