News Analysis: Pakistani military operation in North Wasiristan leaves Taliban in disarray

A year after the Pakistani military launched a massive offensive in the restive North Waziristan tribal region, the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and several other armed groups, including the Haqqani Network, and remnants of al-Qaeda, have been deprived of their bases in this major stronghold bordering Afghanistan.

According to the army, more than 2,000 militants have been killed during the government offensive and about 90 percent areas of the militants' stronghold, including the towns of Miranshah and Mir Ali, has been recovered by the government.

The military said that Taliban militants who have survived the massive ground and air operation codenamed "Zarb-e-Azb" launched in June last year have sought refuge in the inaccessible and most difficult mountainous terrains in North Waziristan.

Tribesmen familiar with the area said that the militants could be hiding in the in the Shawal area, some 60 kilometers west of Miranshah. The area is said to be covered by huge trees and is a rocky formation which is difficult for the Pakistani Army to penetrate.

Many militants have also fled to Lwara Mandi, which is very close to the border with Afghanistan, while some have escaped to the mountains in the nearby South Waziristan, an Orakzai tribal area, as well as in the Tirah Valley in the Khyber agency.

The military also said that hundreds of Pakistani Taliban had crossed the border and sought refuges in the Afghan side and are now operating from there. The Taliban also faced split after the North Waziristan operation was launched as some senior commanders parted ways with the TTP and launched the TTP Jamaat-ul-Ahrar while several others joined the Islamic State or Daesh.

Also in last month, the whole TTP leadership of Bajaur tribal region switched loyalties to Daesh. The TTP Punjabi faction led by Asmatullah Muaweya had also announced that it would cease its militancy and focus on "preaching" inside Pakistan.

Having felt the mounting pressure from Pakistani security forces, the TTP announced in March this year that the splinter" Jamaat-ul-Ahrar" group and militants belonging to the Khyber agency-based "Lashkar-e-Islam" have merged with the TTP.

The group's spokesman Muhammad Khorasani announced that the three groups would now merge into one but until now, nothing has been heard from them.

On June 15 last year, the Pakistani Army announced the start of the biggest military operation with fighter jets pounding militant positions just days after the Taliban and their Uzbek allies attacked the Karachi airport.

The breakdown of the putative peace negotiations with the Taliban was also cited as one of the main reasons for the launch of the offensive after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif delivered a policy statement in the National Assembly.

A substantial decrease has been noted in Taliban attacks over the past one year as the militants have lost their major base for training of suicide bombers and planning attacks in Pakistan and also across the border into Afghanistan.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told the parliament last week that five to six terrorist attacks were a daily routine before the launch of the North Waziristan operation. Observers said that the Taliban have lost the capability to launch any major attacks now and are focusing on target killings of police officers, pro-government peace committee members and minorities.

The TTP now routinely claims responsibility for the target attacks, mostly in Karachi, Bajaur tribal region and northwestern Swat valley, their previous strongholds.

The Pakistan government is now focusing on the repatriation of nearly 1 million people who have been displaced by operation"Zarb- e-Azb." Hundreds of displaced families from the tribal communities have already been resettled by the military in some areas which are now under complete control of the security forces. Endi