Pakistan’s army on Saturday began a long awaited campaign against Taliban strongholds in the troubled South Waziristan region along the Afghan border, in the wake of suggestions the operation could be a make or break in the country’s war against militants.

“Our units have begun a ground assault. They have been given specific targets to seize. The ultimate objective is essentially to take charge of South Waziristan and eliminate militant sanctuaries there” a senior Pakistani government official told the FT. Early reports said, military units began moving in to the area before sunrise, a day after army artillery formations bombed suspected Taliban sites, supported fighter jets from the Pakistan Air Force.