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02.10.03, 15:38
Pakistan moves against al-Qaeda
The Pakistani leader has backed the campaign against al-Qaeda
Pakistani troops are reported to have killed 12 suspected al-Qaeda fighters
during a major operation near the border with Afghanistan.
The army says most of the people killed or captured by the army in a
prolonged gun battle in the district of South Waziristan were foreigners.
The rugged tribal area borders on the Afghan province of Paktika, which has
become a centre for ousted Taleban fighters.
The present security operation began hours before a senior American
official, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, was expected in
Pakistan.
But his trip has now been rescheduled for unspecified reasons.
Al-Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, are often
reported to be hiding somewhere along the long and remote border.
Bodies seen
Hundreds of Pakistani troops are believed to be involved in what is being
described as one of the biggest ground operations against al-Qaeda remnants
in more than a year.
The Pakistani army began the operation "upon the receipt of credible
intelligence about the presence of al-Qaeda elements", an army statement
released on Thursday said.
"I will kill enemies of Islam" - the 'University of Jihad'
The army says troops have surrounded the entire area, making it extremely
difficult for the al-Qaeda fighters to escape.
A reporter at the scene for the Associated Press news agency said he saw the
bodies of four suspected militants and that the army said eight more bodies
were close by.
Women and children sheltering in compounds with the militants surrendered
before the shooting started, according to the army.
The head of the operation, Major General Faisal Alavi, said: "Al-Qaeda
people have taken refuge in these five big compounds. We do not know how
many people are hiding there."
The operation is "against foreign elements who were most likely involved in
attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan," military spokesman Major
General Shaukat Sultan told AFP.
"These foreign elements were causing nuisance to the local inhabitants", he
added.
The tribal region of South Waziristan is a highly conservative area and the
rugged tribesmen have traditionally supported the Taleban across the border.
One Afghan district, Barmal, which has seen resurgent Taleban activity, is
only 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the border from South Waziristan.
Anti-extremist pressure
The Pakistan Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that an expected visit
by US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage had been delayed.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Masood Khan said this was due to "scheduling
issues" but did not elaborate.
Earlier, the US State Department said that Mr Armitage would encourage
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to put more military pressure to block
any Taleban elements.
Pakistan has complained that Afghanistan is not doing enough to track down
extremist elements.
Pakistani security forces have co-operated closely with the US in efforts to
track down Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda supporters in areas on the
Afghan border where they could be hiding.
