Talat Hussain - Anchor and foreign policy commentator

The operation is bound to succeed eventually because the start has been quite emphatic. The militants need a planning centre, which traditionally was [Miramshah], to stage any significant resistance. This they do not have now.

Moreover, the force ratio is heavily in favour of the state and new technology like home-made drone and a flying command and control system for real time operational directives has made it almost impossible for the retreating militants to hold on to territory. They are being pounded from above as they go back into the mountains, primarily the Shawal area. Drones have done the maximum damage as they have taken out major leaders from areas like Datta Khel.

Further, the militants have dispersed into different regions: some have gone to the Middle East, others have crossed into Afghanistan, yet others have even ventured as far out as China through the Nuristan route. The locals have melted back into the population, even though it would be difficult for them to keep their identities hidden as years of violence have earned them many enemies every willing to point them out from among themselves.

With territory gone, command structure demolished and leadership killed or on the run, the last bastion as practically fallen. Now the Army only has to mop up localised resistance and de-bomb the area. Hit and run attacks will continue but with IED factories being uprooted that stockpile of terror is also running out quickly.

From here onwards the operation is likely to proceed without a major set-back. One or two spectacular attacks cannot be ruled out, but these are likely to be in the nature of last hurrah and not the beginning of the much-dreaded blow back engulfing the whole country.