Pakistan begins Waziristan anti-terrorism operation

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Following a two-week spate of violence that killed at least 150 people, more than 30,000 Pakistani soldiers launched a major ground offensive in the main al-Qaida and Taliban stronghold along the Afghan border.

Pakistan's army says that its anti-terrorism operation began at 3 A.M. local time on Saturday in the South Waziristan region near the nation's border with Afghanistan.

The full-scale assault comes after two weeks of persistent militant attacks that have killed up to 150 people across the country and ramped up pressure on the army to take out the insurgents.

Ordinary Pakistanis are discouraged by the situation, but many agree the counter-offensive is necessary.

A Pakistan army truck transporting heavy artillery passes through  the main bazaar of Tank, a town on the edge of Pakistan troubled  tribal region South Waziristan, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009. More  than 30,000 Pakistani soldiers launched a ground offensive  against al-Qaida and the Taliban's main stronghold along the  Afghan border Saturday, officials said, in the country's  toughest test yet against a strengthening insurgency. (AP Photo/Ihsan Ahmed)