The terrorists were "unusually silent" during and immediately after the February 18 general elections but three major attacks recently, including the bombings at a meeting of tribal elders on Sunday and at a funeral of a slain police officer earlier, have left at least 100 dead.

While the US will provide technical support for this offensive, there will be no direct American participation in it, the influential Dawn newspaper quoted diplomatic sources in Washington as saying.

The decision to go after the militants followed a recent increase in terrorist attacks in the country.

The proposed military offensive, according to diplomatic and US sources, is aimed at curbing the growing influence of the Taliban commander linked to al Qaeda, Baitullah Mehsud, in the tribal areas, particularly Waziristan.

Reports in the US media on Sunday said that Washington is sending 100 military trainers to Pakistan who may also participate in operations against the militants.

Pakistan will also continue its efforts to negotiate a peaceful end to the conflict with tribal supporters of the Taliban and Al Qaida insurgents, the sources said.