WASHINGTON, March 2: Pakistan is planning a major military offensive against suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda bases in the tribal areas, diplomatic sources in Washington told Dawn.

The sources said that the decision to go after the militants followed a recent increase in terrorist attacks in the country. The terrorists were unusually silent during and immediately after the national elections but have carried out several major attacks recently, killing more than 100 people in three days.

The sources said that while the United States will provide technical support for this offensive, there will be no direct US participation.

Reports in the US media on Sunday said that Washington is sending 100 military trainers to Pakistan who may also participate in operations against the militants.

Pakistan will also continue its efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict with tribal supporters of the Taliban and Al Qaeda insurgents, the sources said, adding that the military offensive will not terminate the peace talks.

The sources claimed that US intelligence experts also have confirmed Pakistan’s assessment that Baitullah Mehsud and his group are responsible for most of the attacks inside Pakistan. They said that since December, when Mehsud assumed command of a militant umbrella group called Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, he has become active on both sides of the Pak-Afghan border.

In an unusual interview to Washington Post last month, CIA chief Michael Hayden blamed Mehsud for assassinating former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and warned that a new “nexus between Al Qaeda and various extremist and separatist groups” is seeking to destabilise Pakistan.

“It is clear that their intention is to continue to try to do harm to the Pakistani state as it currently exists,” he added.

US officials in Washington say that the United States is helping Pakistan deal with this threat and recently sent a four-member intelligence team to the country to help enhance their intelligence gathering capabilities.

The proposed military offensive, according to diplomatic and US sources, aims at curbing Mehsud’s growing influence in the tribal zone, particular in Waziristan.

Pentagon officials, while talking to various US media outlets, said that US intelligence experts are helping Pakistan locate Mehsud who, they said, needs to be “hammered down.”

Diplomatic sources said that since Mehsud and his militants hide among local tribes, it has been difficult to pinpoint him. The fear of collateral damage --- civilian casualties -– also prevents US and Pakistani troops from targeting Mehsud.

The Pakistan Army last conducted an operation against Mehsud in early January. But the action ended after a few days amid talk of an unofficial truce.