Replies

Al-Qaeda hotshot likely killed 15/10/2003 18:20 - (SA) Pakistan - One of the men killed in Pakistan's largest-ever offensive against al-Qaeda appears to have been a high-ranking member of the terror network, a Pakistani official said on Wednesday. Eight al-Qaeda suspects and two Pakistani soldiers were killed in the massive October 2 raid where army commandos battled insurgents at a suspected hideout in the remote South Waziristan region. "There is a probability which I cannot confirm that a man among those killed was one who has a reward on his head," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said at a news conference in Islamabad. "He was among the top 10 or 15 people in al-Qaeda." Ahmed refused to provide any more details. Also on Wednesday, lawmakers from a pro-Taliban religious alliance demanded that authorities end an operation in South Waziristan where security forces have been looking for tribesman accused of sheltering the al-Qaeda suspects. Causing problems In a week-long operation in the tribal region, along the border with Afghanistan - where 18 al-Qaeda suspects were also captured in the raid - Pakistani security forces have arrested more than 60 tribesman, said a government official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "The operation to arrest the alleged foreigners and those allegedly giving them shelter is causing problems for the people in Waziristan," Shabbir Ahmed Khan, a member of the powerful Mutahida Majilis-e-Amal religious coalition, told The Associated Press. Authorities were still looking for three fugitive tribal elders - identified as Payo Khan and Zari Gul of the Kari Khel tribe, and Noor Islam from the Desi Khel tribe - who allegedly owned the homes where the al-Qaeda suspects were hiding. Security forces began searching for them after they failed to comply with a government deadline to surrender by October 7. Authorities have also destroyed homes, impounded cars and closed businesses of people belonging to the Kari Khel and Desi Khel tribes in an effort to persuade them to assist the search for the elders. Several members from another tribe - Yar Gul Khel - have also been arrested during the crackdown. "Stop operation" Under the so-called code of "collective responsibility," Pakistani forces have the authority to arrest an entire tribe if any of its members break the law. Such actions can continue until the wanted men surrender. A group of lawmakers from Mutahida Majilis-e-Amal - or United Action Forum - was traveling to South Waziristan on Wednesday on a fact-finding mission, Khan said. "The purpose of the visit is to know the facts and inform MMA leadership," he said. The MMA is a strong voice in the parliament and made stunning gains in elections last October on a platform of support for the Taliban and opposition to the American-led operation against the Afghan militia. "This operation should be stopped immediately and all details in this connection should be presented in the parliament," said Khan, who is a member of the National Assembly, or lower parliamentary house, from Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province. Members of the delegation are to meet with tribal elders and clerics in South Waziristan, he said.