Cutoff from the outside world Sararogha, is a town built on the edge of dry wadis that swell to roaring torrents after the winter rains. For now the land is parched dry.
It's home to the Mehsud tribesmen and was the main headquarters of the Pakistani Taliban.
The mud-built homes amongst wild olive trees were eerily quiet.
Before the military moved in they told local residents to get out.
Now they hope they can return as soon as the local civilian administration is back to work.
As we flew back to Islamabad the military was battling for control of Makeen and beyond. Despite the military gains, there is more fighting to come.
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