The next Corps Commanders Conference would focus on strategies around the North Waziristan operation that Pakistan military is to undertake. For obvious reasons, as to when any military operation would take place has not been disclosed yet. The crackdown which was done last year in NWA was not adequate in view of the United States and the one that took place in 2004 resulted in a 'peace deal' with the tribal militants after two years of constant battling. Now, the Pakistan Army heads to another military operation in North Waziristan.

The security agency is said to be weighing in around two major options they have to deal with terrorists hiding in North Waziristan. First is to launch a full-scale military operation along with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) or secondly to use the intelligence sharing as the basis of where to crackdown in a sneak attack. The already present Pakistani forces consisting upon one infantry division, five brigades, 12 battalions and 11 Frontier Corps (FC) wings in the NWA are not sufficient according to the Pakistani military officials to carry out any kind of an operation and thus have demanded further operational support.

This is where the coalition forces will be required to come in to actually wage the war on terrorists by providing the necessary logistical support. Already with the recent visit by ISAF Commander, General John R. Allen, operational backing has been promised on behalf of Afghan National Army (ANA) and the NATO forces. Conducting an operation in North Waziristan was always on the cards, but due to the Salalal attack incident, the efforts were compromised with Pakistan blocking NATO's supply routes into Afghanistan.

Ousting the Haqqani Network, which the ISAF believes operates in the North Waziristan region, is something that has been a bone of contention between the U.S.-Pakistan relations because of an uncertainty of their exact location and lack of intelligence cooperation between the concerned parties. But nevertheless, cutting off the Haqqani Network's arm in North Waziristan alone will not be satisfactory if one is to see any results of finishing off with these terrorists. Their links at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border ought to be dealt with simultaneously so that this next military operation in North Waziristan does not spark further terrorist attacks across Pakistan in retaliation.

For such operational activities to see the light of day, it is of utmost urgency that both Pakistan Military and the ISAF along with ANA show trust and teamwork amongst themselves. Terming the Haqqani network as a 'veritable arm of ISI' will not do any good and it is utterly senseless. The ground reality is that Pakistan military is engaged at so many fronts round the clock. On top of it to be called insincere in its efforts to hunt and kill terrorists is hurting and morally discouraging. For Pakistan Army to engage in a warfare that will result in collateral damage to its own people is an astounding endeavour.

With the limited resources that such a multi-faceted operational involvement of Pakistan military presents, it should be made sure that this time the operation in North Waziristan brings out the expected outcome or else it will all be yet another exercise in bloodshed of both the heroes and the villains with both taking a long period off to recuperate and regain vigour. With this important military encounter about to take place, Pakistan's economic and social status is also to be kept in mind which are not faring well either. A major chunk of the country's budget is used to support Pakistan's military to safeguard against enemies that take no break.