A military offensive by the military of Pakistan was launched in early August 2008 to retake the border crossing near the town of Loyesam , 12 km from Khaar from militants loyal to Tehrik-e-Taliban , the so-called Pakistani Taliban . In the two weeks following the initial battle , government forces pulled back to Khaar and initiated aerial bombing and artillery barrages on presumed militant positions , which reportedly has all but depopulated Bajaur and parts of neighbouring Mohmand Agency , with an estimated 300,000 fleeing their homes . The estimate of casualties ran into the hundreds . The offensive was launched in the wake of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani 's visit to Washington in late July , and is believed by some to be in response to U.S. demands that Pakistan prevent the FATA being used as a safe haven by insurgents fighting American and NATO troops in Afghanistan . However , the offensive was decided by the military , not the civilian government . The bloody bombing of Pakistan Ordnance Factories in Wah on August 21 , 2008 , came according to Maulvi Omar , a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban , as a response to the Bajaur offensive
bombing of Pakistan Ordnance Factories in Wah
2008 Wah bombing
Bajaur District