Islamabad - Thousands of people have fled Pakistan's tribal region near the Afghan border, believing the recent surge in military strikes marks the launch of an expected offensive against the Taliban fighters. The exodus began when hundreds of troops, backed by dozens of tanks and helicopter gunships, started an action on Tuesday against the fighters loyal to former Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who died in a US drone missile attack in early August.
"The army is moving from Razmak town to the Makeen area," said Jamil Mehsud, a local who reached Dera Ismail Khan town in North West Frontier Province on Wednesday morning.
"The soldiers have already captured Mohammad Nawaz Kot village that lies two kilometres north of Makeen," he added.
According to Jamil, thousands of men, women and children were moving in small groups towards the neighbouring district of North Waziristan using difficult mountain tracks.
It was not clear whether the government forces have launched a much-awaited fully-fledged operation in the district, where al-Qaeda has safe havens.
The chief spokesman of the Pakistani military, Major General Athar Abbas, said there was "no operation" going on in South Waziristan.
"It's just a local reaction to a rocket attack by Taliban on a security check post," he said. "There is no formal operation."
An intelligence official said that the ground troops were facing "stiff resistance" from Taliban.
"Ten helicopter gunships and two F-16 jet fighters have repeatedly targeted militant positions since Tuesday to support our forces that are making an advance towards the militants' stronghold," said the official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"There are reports of heavy casualties among the Taliban but we do not have the exact figure so far," he added.
Pakistan has deployed thousands of troops in South Waziristan since mid-June when the government announced it had ordered an operation against Mehsud, who was believed to be behind dozens of suicide attacks across the country.
However, the onslaught was delayed after assessments that more preparations were required to defeat an estimated 15,000 well-armed and -equipped guerrilla fighters from Mehsud's group.
Washington has asked Pakistan for an all-out offensive in South Waziristan, from where Islamist insurgents conduct cross-border raids on Western troops in Afghanistan.
The latest army action, with an unclear scope, comes when Mehsud's group appears to be divided after the death of its chief.
Baitullah's clansman Hakimullah Mehusd has been selected as his successor but there are reports that he remains engaged in a power struggle with Baitullah's cousin and an important commander, Wali-ur-Rehman.
