In the mountains along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, a massive battle looms.
Thousands of Pakistani soldiers are waiting for orders to launch an offensive that could change the course of their country's bloody struggle against the Taliban.
The army's target is South Waziristan, a lawless tribal region. It is the headquarters of the jihad against Islamabad's rulers and a key training ground for fighters in the war against British and American troops across the frontier.
Waiting to do battle with government soldiers is an army of 10,000 local fighters, along with thousands of foreign jihadists allied to al-Qaida, for which the area has long been a refuge — possibly even for Osama bin Laden himself.
All summer American officials have urged the Pakistan to launch a knockout blow. U.S. officials believe the Taliban has been on the ropes since they were driven out of the valley of Swat, further north, last May, and now is the time to strike.
The government offensive is not guaranteed success, however. Last week reporter Arif Janjua travelled into the heart of the Taliban stronghold to meet the jihadists who are keenly waiting to embrace martyrdom.
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