Lawless Land

" the bottom of the the place where laws for either follow the northern border. A region where militants blocked their taxes were suspected terrorists find refuge. Tonight in South Waziristan. What looks like the most important battle yet between Pakistan and the Taliban is unfolding. It's the third day of a major offensive with a monumental goal. The nuclear armed nation is attempting to once and for role as they put it smoke out religious extremists from an area roughly the size of the state of Delaware. The fox reports -- force on the Jonathan Hunt is following this from our New York City news or how the battle shaping up to weed out."

" We'll check -- in the latest updates from the Pakistani army and if they ought to be believed it is going very well they say they are killing terrorists. Destroying arms and ammunition dumps and generally are ahead of schedule. In this operation of the Taliban and calls tell a very different story they say. There inflicting heavy casualties on the Pakistani army either way whatever the truth and an area journalists on being allowed into. It is going to be a very tough fight just because the Pakistani army a dealing with -- very difficult terrain UC -- it back. McKean pakistanis part of the epicenter of the fighting right now clearly it is an area of the Taliban know very well could use to their advantage it is going to be a long tough fight for the Pakistani army --"

" Jonathan this Central Command commander David Petraeus and the Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. Both had meetings with officials in Pakistan today clearly whatever happens in this battle has implications for the United States. "

" Absolutely it does in a sense this is a purely local fight between the Pakistani army. And Taliban militants who have -- series of attacks against Pakistani targets but don't have much bigger level set. These are the same Taliban militants who cooperate routinely. And hide al-Qaeda operatives so with the Pakistani army can strike a major blow against the Taliban that effectively destroy them it would be equally a major blow against the al-Qaeda terrorists who are determined to strike at the United States. It could indeed be but Jonathan there are some very real questions about whether Pakistan has -- of the determination. Or the resources to fight and win this -- yeah absolutely terms of resources they have put enough troops in that. Something like 30000 troops battling an estimated 10000 -- so. Taliban militants they also have the firepower they need. Thanks partly to USA the biggest question here is that determination make a full this battle. Three times -- since 2000 -- every time they have retreated and declared a short lived truce with those Taliban militants. Question this time is -- they determined to push forward the US government -- that has been a change they hope that they will succeed yet Jonathan Hunt live in New York John thank you. Next door to Pakistan."