ISLAMABAD-In a bid to neutralize the combating ability of Baitullah Mehsud led Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Pakistan army is using the fighter jets and gunship helicopters in the first phase of military offensive and for that dozens of targets have also been identified. In the ongoing aerial bombardment, the fighter jets are taking out the militants hideouts in the Mehsud area of South Waziristan and this action will continue for next few days as the government wants to weaken the Taliban to great extent before the boots on ground move in large number, said a well placed source here on Friday seeking anonymity. He said that the gunship choppers were also assisting the fighter planes of Pakistan Air Force in the air assault against Baitullah and his followers and the targets identified for the purpose had been chosen carefully after days long intelligence work. These targets not only include the local followers of Taliban chief Baitullah but also his foreign associates from Central Asia including the Uzbeks and Chechens, the source said. According to source, the special forces of Pakistan army could also be used during the current phase of air strikes against the militants in South Waziristan but when it was extremely necessary and that too in small number. The aim and objective of the government is not the conquest of area but to cleanse it from the militants who have not only carried out deadly terrorist strikes in different cities and towns but also made the lives of common tribesmen miserable, he said. An official here when contacted said that the security forces were moving with great caution in South Waziristan as they didnt want to harm the innocent civilians and before any final ground assault, the militants would be cornered so that they could not spread out to areas inhabited by ordinary tribal people. He confirmed that in first phase it was planned to go for air strikes but in a very careful manner to avoid the collateral damage. He said that there was a certain timeframe for the air attacks after which the security forces would move with full force but obviously not before assessing the damage inflicted on the militants.