MIRANSHAH — The Pakistani military has seized control of 80 percent of Miranshah, the capital of the remote tribal region of North Waziristan, where the military launched an operation against Islamist militants last month, a general said on Wednesday. Previously, the city was largely under the control of the Taliban and militants used it as a base to prepare bombs and plan attacks, said General Zafarullah Khan, the top commander in rugged North Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan. “North Waziristan had transformed into a hub and safe haven for terrorists of all colors and creeds,” he said during a media trip to Miranshah. “But with the operation, 80 percent of Miranshah and the adjoining areas has been cleared.” The offensive in North Waziristan began on June 15, following months of failed negotiations between the government and the militants. – Reuters
