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Afghanistan/South Asia
Abdullah Mehsud slips Pakistani drag-net
2004-11-12
Pakistani forces attacked hideouts of al Qaeda-linked militants near the Afghan border today but did not catch one of the area's most wanted men, a military commander said. Troops seized several deserted hideouts, including bunkers and caves, in the rugged South Waziristan tribal region, said regional commander Lieutenant-General Safdar Hussain. ''The operation was successful beyond my expectations,'' he told reporters in the northwestern city of Peshawar. ''The militants are in total disarray. They are on the run and we are chasing them,'' he said. ''But they are still there and this operation cannot be the last operation.''

Authorities have been trying to find Abdullah Mehsud, a Pakistani militant whose men kidnapped two Chinese engineers last month. The fighting has been in the Spinkai Raghzai region, a stronghold of Mehsud, in South Waziristan, 400 km southwest of the capital, Islamabad. Six rebels and two soldiers were killed in fighting in the area this week, security officials said.

Hussain said his forces had searched Mehsud's native village, Nano, but had not found him. Hussain said his men would not give up the hunt. ''This is a clear message for Abdullah Mehsud that the government is resolved to root out terrorism from the region. He has only seen a tip of the iceberg of military power.''
"We keep getting phone calls from China reminding us about their military power."
Posted by:Dan Darling

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