South Waziristan is the stronghold of the Tehrik-i-Taliban, an alliance of more than a dozen militant groups that is fighting the government. The Taliban have been responsible for a wave of violence across the country.

THE LAND
South Waziristan has an area of about 6,620 square kilometres. It borders Afghanistan to the west, North Waziristan to the north, NWFP to the east and Balochistan to the south. It is an arid land of mountains pocked by dried-up creeks, along with sparse forests and rocky plains.

THE PEOPLE
South Waziristan has an estimated population of about 500,000. The population is divided into tribes, with the main ones being the Mehsuds, from whom the Taliban draw much support, and the Wazirs. Tribes are divided into sub-tribes or clans.

THE FIGHTING
The Taliban bastion is a wedge of territory in a Mehsud tribe region, beginning to the northeast of Wana, to the south of Razmak, on the border with North Waziristan, and to the northwest of Jandola, on the border with NWFP. The Taliban heartland does not border Afghanistan.

The militants have had years to prepare their defences and hold rifles, machineguns, anti-tank weapons, especially rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and longer-range rockets.

They are also experts in the use of roadside bombs and have been churning out a stream of suicide bombers.—Reuters