In another expression of the boundless confidence the government has in its endless series of wars, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani declared today that the war in South Waziristan is going so well it will end earlier than predicted.
Exactly what that means however is unclear, as Gilani insisted that he would not make the timeframe for the war public, and high ranking officials have repeatedly balked at giving any indication of what they were predicting.
The only one who had given any indication was Foreign Minister Qureshi, who insisted earlier this month that the military would achieve “final victory” by mid-December. Other officials disputed this timetable, however, so it is unclear if Gilani’s comments should be taken to mean the war will end earlier than this.
Last week Gilani insisted that the growing string of attacks across Pakistan were a good sign, and indeed indicated “desperation” on the part of the insurgency ahead of their impending defeat.
Defense Minister Ahmad Mukhtar has said that the government’s intention is to launch another war, in North Waziristan, as soon as the current one ends. The militants in South Waziristan have largely avoided major clashes with the military so far, however, so while they appear to have taken over a handful of villages it is unclear how much damage they are actually doing to the TTP’s infrastructure.