NEW YORK: In what appears to be a major shift in policy, Pakistan will go after all militant groups in its unfolding operation in the North Waziristan tribal area, including insurgents who target neighbouring Afghanistan, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif told the Journal that the military offensive in North Waziristan would target the Haqqani network, a group affiliated with the Afghan Taliban that has been based in the tribal area for more than three decades.

Also read: ‘No distinction between good, bad Taliban’

The Haqqanis are seen by the US and Afghan governments as one of the main threats to stability in Afghanistan.

“We will eliminate all sorts of terrorists from our area without any exception,” said Mr Asif. “If there are exceptions made, then the purpose of this operation will be defeated. It has to be without making any differentiation between our Taliban and their Taliban, or good Taliban and bad Taliban.”

Pakistan has long been accused by neighbours and US officials of backing jihadist groups as its proxies in Afghanistan and India.

Published in Dawn, July 8th , 2014