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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Pakistani raid targeted al-Qaeda training camp |
| 2004-09-09 |
| Pakistani forces smashed a suspected Al-Qaeda training camp in a remote tribal area near the Afghan border, killing some 50 militant fighters, the military said. "Around 50 people, 90 percent of them foreigners, were killed in the strike on the terrorist training camp," military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan told the private ARYOne television channel. Most of the victims were Uzbeks and Chechens with some Arabs among them, Sultan said. A military statement said troops launched "a precise strike on a foreign terrorist training camp... and successfully knocked it out." The camp was located at Dila Khula district, some 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the border and 25 kilometers (16 miles) northeast of Wana, the main city in the tribal district of South Waziristan. The raid, which lasted around two hours, was based on reports of training activity by "foreign elements" including Uzbeks, Chechens and some Arabs. Local residents reported seeing bombs and missiles dropped from fighter planes on a prayer gathering. "People had gathered for morning prayers when a missile struck their compound at around 6:30 am (0130 GMT)," resident Azizullah told AFP. "It was followed by aerial bombardment resulting in the killing of more than 50 people." A security official who asked not be named said only one guided missile was fired at the gathering by ground troops. The area is a stronghold of the rebellious Mehsud tribe. The latest offensive comes a day after a shootout between militants and security forces in Wana bazaar, in which eight people were killed. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |