Islamabad, Nov 19: President General Pervez Musharraf is said to have intensified his campaign against what he perceives as dual threats to his government-- the free-flow of information through media and a growing Islamic insurgency.

The Wall Street Journal quoted Major General Shuja Pasha, in an online report, as saying: “The troops are ready for a major offensive against the militants.”

The report said that Musharraf had cited the deteriorating security situation in the country while imposing emergency, but many of the public signs of the new regime have centred on locking up opposition politicians and lawyers who demonstrated against the measures.

As part of its clampdown, the government also imposed a blackout on all local and foreign cable news channels, the Daily Times quoted the report, as saying.

It went on to say that on the military front, the Pakistan Army is pursuing one of its largest military campaigns against Islamic militants in the northern region close to the Afghan border.

General Pasha said that 600 foreign militants, including Uzbeks, Chechens and Arabs, were part of the Islamic militia.

“We have clear evidence of the presence of foreign fighters,” said the major general, who is directing military operation in the area.
 
A curfew has been clamped in the Swat and Malakand districts as security forces backed by helicopter gunships and artillery pounded militant positions in areas that fell into militant control last week, the report added. (ANI)