Taliban warns foreign firms

The Pakistani Taliban on Monday warned foreign firms to leave the country and vowed to hit back after government tanks, troops and jets were deployed in a long-awaited offensive on their stronghold. Pakistan’s major cities braced for revenge attacks by tightening security at key installations and ordering soldiers to patrol the streets, while hospitals in the northwest prepared for casualties. The offensive against the main bastion of Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants was launched a week after a brazen attack on the country’s main airport in Karachi. Pakistan’s allies, particular the United States, called for an operation in the mountainous tribal territory to flush out the groups. Analyst Ayesha Siddiqa said the offensive appeared to target only those militant groups who were causing trouble for Pakistan, rather than insurgents as a whole.

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