And having dealt with Mr Mehsud, in what would in effect be a joint operation with his Taliban rivals, the army may well intend to withdraw from South Waziristan.

• 这实际上是与其他塔利班势力的联合行动。即使消灭迈赫苏德之后，巴军本想完全可以从南瓦奇里斯坦撤退出来。