CNews WASHINGTON: Pakistan's rugged tribal zones are the alleged hideout of Osama bin Laden and home to an array of militant factions -- and if history is any judge, subduing them will be a bloody struggle.
Three days of some of the deadliest clashes since the fall of neighbouring Afghanistan's Taliban regime in 2001 have left around 200 militants and 45 soldiers dead, along with an unknown number of civilians.
Al-Qaeda has regrouped in the pine-dotted region, according to the United States, while militant sources say bin Laden's son and possible successor, Hamza, has recently arrived there.
At its heart is a nexus between mainly Arab Al-Qaeda agents and local tribesmen who either support the Taliban or directly take part in attacks on security forces in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
A recent bout of militant infighting that claimed 300 lives in South Waziristan exposed some of the shadowy dealings in the region.
Pakistani pro-Taliban rebels took on other militants led by a fugitive Islamist leader from Uzbekistan with ties to bin Laden in what amounted to a turf war.
Three days of some of the deadliest clashes since the fall of neighbouring Afghanistan's Taliban regime in 2001 have left around 200 militants and 45 soldiers dead, along with an unknown number of civilians.
Al-Qaeda has regrouped in the pine-dotted region, according to the United States, while militant sources say bin Laden's son and possible successor, Hamza, has recently arrived there.
At its heart is a nexus between mainly Arab Al-Qaeda agents and local tribesmen who either support the Taliban or directly take part in attacks on security forces in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
A recent bout of militant infighting that claimed 300 lives in South Waziristan exposed some of the shadowy dealings in the region.
Pakistani pro-Taliban rebels took on other militants led by a fugitive Islamist leader from Uzbekistan with ties to bin Laden in what amounted to a turf war.
