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| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistani army launches a major operation in South Waziristan |
| 2004-01-08 |
| More fall-out from the attempt to whack Perv or just more house-cleaning? Pakistan’s army launched a major offensive against suspected terrorists in a mountainous region near the border with Afghanistan believed used by Al Qaeda fugitives. It was not clear whether any major arrests were made during the operation, said Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. Gen. Shaukat Sultan, the army spokesman, told AP that the operation near Wana, the headquarters of the An intelligence official told AP that authorities had received word three days ago that a group of armed men, believed to be foreigners, were in an area called Azam Warsak, near Wana. Tribal elders were contacted and asked the men to surrender, but they refused, prompting the military action. Troops stormed the compound where the men are believed to be holed up at 3 a.m. Thursday. There was an exchange of fire and that several army helicopters were involved. Soldiers used loudspeakers to urge villagers to leave the area. South Waziristan is one of the main suspected hideouts for Osama bin Laden and other top Al Qaeda fugitives. Officials in the region have said American planes dropped leaflets in the area Wednesday urging residents to cooperate with authorities and turn in any foreign terrorists. It was at least the second major operation in South Waziristan in recent months. On Oct. 2, eight Al Qaeda suspects were killed and 18 others captured in fierce fighting with army troops. Two Pakistani soldiers also died. The target of that raid was apparently Said al-Kadr, an Egyptian-born Canadian citizen. Pakistani officials say he appears to have escaped, but his family has said he is missing and has accused the Pakistani government of hiding information about his fate. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #1 Considering the fact that the Pakistan Army and millitary intelligence are infested with Pahstun (Pakhtoon/pashtoon) tribesman, the very people that they are supposed to hunt down, I'm not that optimistic about the chances of sucses here. |
| Posted by: chinditz 2004-1-8 4:46:29 AM |