Pakistan's military rolls into the town of Miranshah.

It's the capital of North Warziristan -- a Taliban stronghold -- and almost everyone has left now.

The army's stepping up its operation in the North Waziristan tribal area and targeting militants who have been hiding there.

The operation in the isolated mountains that border Afghanistan began nearly three weeks ago.

First from the air, now boots on the ground.

Searches have turned up bombmaking factories and stockpiles of explosives.

Here militants have left behind propaganda, CDs and even suicide jackets.

Pakistan's allies, especially the United States, have urged the government for years to eliminate these key Taliban areas.

But it was only after peace talks failed and a series of attacks by the Taliban that Pakistan launched this offensive.