Pakistan Offensive: Both Sides Claim a Win

2 Senior U.S. Officials Visit Country as Military, Militants Both Claim Early Victory in Bloody Campaign

(CBS/AP)  Troops fought militants on three fronts and fighter jets bombed insurgent positions Monday as Pakistan pressed ahead with its assault on an al Qaeda and Taliban sanctuary close to the Afghan border.

The army and the Taliban have each claimed early victories in South Waziristan, a mountainous tribal region that Islamist extremists use as a base to plot attacks on the Pakistani state, Western troops in Afghanistan and targets in the West.

The fighting took place as U.S. Central Command chief David Petraeus met Pakistan's prime minister and army chief in the capital. U.S. Sen. John Kerry also met political and military leaders to try and ease tensions over an American aid bill that has caused a rift between the army and Pakistan's civilian government.

Intelligence officials said fighting was going in three places in South Waziristan close to Jandola, Razmak and Wana, three towns where the army had bases. Jets were making bombing runs in the Ladha and Makeen areas, the officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to brief the media on the record.

The army said Sunday that 60 militants and six soldiers have been killed since the offensive began Saturday.

Intelligence officials said eight more militants were killed Monday as they advanced on troops in the Khaisur area.

It is impossible to independently verify what is going on in South Waziristan because the army is blocking access to it and surrounding towns.

The Taliban claimed Sunday to have inflicted "heavy casualties" and pushed advancing soldiers back into their bases.

The military offensive is focused on eliminating Pakistani Taliban militants linked to the Mehsud tribe, who control roughly 1,275 square miles of territory, or about half of South Waziristan. They are blamed for 80 percent of the suicide attacks that have battered Pakistan over the last three years, including five major attacks over the last two weeks.

Part of the strategy involves striking deals with other militant groups and tribes in the region to ensure they support the fight, or at least stay neutral.

Read more on the Taliban's link to militant groups in the crucial Punjab province.
Related: Iran-Pakistan tension rises after suicide attack.

Some 30,000 troops are up against an estimated 10,000 Pakistani militants and about 1,500 foreign fighters.

However, Richard Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, told CBS' "Early Show" on Monday that the fierce battle in South Waziristan may prove little more than a distraction for Pakistan.

Asked whether the U.S. government should have faith in the Pakistani military's ability to crush the Taliban in the region, Haass told "Early Show" co-anchor Harry Smith, "The short answer is no."

"It's not clear how strong their commitment is," Haass added. "There's not going to be a decisive battle here. This is part of a longer struggle that will be messy."

Haass said Taliban claims that they had drawn the army into a protracted winter battle in the rugged terrain near the Afghan border to the militant's own advantage may actually bare some truth.

"The Pakistani military is not well-suited for that," said Haass. "It was largely designed for a conventional war against India. Now they're fighting an unconventional war against radicals in their own territory."

As many as 150,000 civilians - possibly more - have left in recent months after the army made clear it was planning an assault, but some 350,000 people may be left in the region. Authorities say that up to 200,000 people may flee in the coming days, but don't expect to have to house them in camps because most have relatives in the region.

"The situation in Waziristan is getting worse and worse every day," said Haji Sherzad Mehsud as he lined up for aid.

Accounts from residents and those fleeing Sunday suggested militant resistance was far tougher than in the Swat Valley, another northwest region where insurgents were overpowered earlier this year. Officials have said they envisage the operation will last two months, when winter weather will make fighting difficult.

The U.S. has rushed to send equipment, such as night-vision goggles, to aid the offensive.

No details were released about meetings attended by Petraeus, who oversees the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Kerry, the U.S. senator.

Kerry is the co-sponsor of a bill signed by President Obama last week that gives $1.5 billion annually over five years for economic and social programs. The government supports the bill, but the army has complained that some of the aid comes with strings attached that amount to American meddling in security affairs.

[zamorin44]

Yes,both sides could claim a win in this fight because both are the same.Nothing beats Pakistani smoke and mirrors.

[jxknowles]

It's nice to have battles where both sides come out a winner. We need more wars like that.

[finkfust]

"The U.S. has rushed to send equipment, such as night-vision goggles, to aid the offensive."

........ and it hasn't rushed to send ANYTHING to help the expected 350,000 refugees! That says everything we need to know about American priorities!

[finkfust]

You said it!...... "why shouldn't Pakistan be responsible for their own people"..... America is providing billions of dollars in military hardware. I have common sense, but apparently you have only hypocrisy!

[Mortarman29]

No. Providing military equipment to help kill our enemies is in our interests. Helping pakistan house refugees when Pakistan has stated they dont want us involved in their internal politics is not in our interests.

[finkfust]

Mortarman29 - Yes, we all know now. Killing people is "the American Way" and you "don't do peace"................

[finkfust]

Perhaps you should try "not doing peace", but without the killing!

I would suggest staying at home and getting even fatter is the best option for you.

[finkfust]

An "assault on al Qaeda and Taliban"? This makes no sense whatsoever! They are two totally different groups and ideologies. This is yet another illogical and immoral assault purely for American PR reasons, with no conceivable real objective. The losers are the ordinary people of the area, as if they didn't already have enough problems just ensuring that they will survive the winter.

[Mortarman29]

How about the "ordinary people of the area" pick up their AK-47s and help us out and shoot the Taliban and Al Qaeda in their towns. Then, the problem will be solved and we can leave.

You see, if they help us kill all of the Taliban and Al Qaeda...then they dont have to worry about them...or us.

[mav547166]

You need to do some more research, and quit using White House excuse making for not sending more troops. Use the search term Wahibi, and Sunni.