Pak flip-flop on Waziristan, says offensive is still on

KARACHI - Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has backtracked on his earlier statement that the Pakistani military’s ground offensive against the Taliban in South Waziristan is over.

“I may have said it in a different context. Our army operation in South Waziristan is going on quite successfully, and I can’t tell any timeline,” the Daily Times quoted Gilani, as saying.

Earlier, in televised interview, Gilani had said that the military operation in South Waziristan had concluded, and the army may now shift focus to the Orakzai Agency.

But he later said that while the army has captured Taliban strongholds in South Waziristan, the offensive is still on.

Replying to a question about India’s alleged involvement in Balochistan, Gilani said the matter would be taken up with New Delhi at an appropriate time.

“We will present the evidence of Indian involvement in terrorism … at a suitable time after the provincial governments give us the inquiry reports,” he said. (ANI)