Posted on 06/26/2002 3:02:30 AM PDT by kattracks
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Jun 26, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- Suspected al-Qaida fighters killed 10 Pakistani soldiers in a gunbattle Wednesday in a remote area of Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan, the Pakistan military said.
At least two attackers were also killed in the fight, which occurred before dawn and lasted for about four hours, an Interior Ministry source said. The Pakistani dead included a major and a captain, the official said. One suspected al-Qaida fighter was captured, he said on condition of anonymity.
They were the first known combat deaths suffered by Pakistani soldiers since the government sent troops to the border last year to try to intercept Taliban and al-Qaida fugitives fleeing across the Afghan border.
The fight broke out as Pakistani soldiers raided houses near the town of Wana, about 190 miles west of Islamabad, in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, the Pakistani military said in a statement.
"In an effort to apprehend the al-Qaida elements using minimum force due to concern for safety of the civilian population, ten security persons," were killed, the statement said.
The statement gave no further details. But the Interior Ministry official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity said the Pakistani troops were acting on tips received from the FBI that al-Qaida operatives were in the area. FBI agents are in Pakistan helping local authorities investigate recent attacks on Western targets.
He said some soldiers were wounded and evacuated by helicopter to nearby hospitals.
He said the Pakistani soldiers launched their hunt near the town of Wana, about 190 miles west of Islamabad, on tips from the FBI that al-Qaida operatives were in the area.
An army officer, also speaking on condition of anonymity, said 500 soldiers backed by Pakistani helicopters were deployed to the area after Wednesday's attack to search for those responsible. Local tribal elders had pledged to help.
The official said al-Qaida members from the Russian region of Chechnya were believed to be operating in the area as well as Afghans.
Local government buildings and Pakistani troops have occasionally come under brief rocket fire from unknown attackers in the area in recent weeks, but no soldiers have been killed.
Pakistan deployed thousands of soldiers to the areas bordering Afghanistan starting last year to block al-Qaida fighters from fleeing U.S. led-operations against them.
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf on Saturday said Pakistan has arrested about 300 suspected al-Qaida and Taliban fighters in the area, which is largely outside the control of the central government and dominated by local tribal leaders.
Musharraf is considered a key U.S. ally in the U.S. led war on terror, but he faces domestic criticism from some conservative religious groups who sympathized with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
In Washington, Air Force Brig. Gen. John Rosa Jr. told a Pentagon news conference this week that he did not know how many al-Qaida fugitives have slipped into Pakistan. He noted that Lt. Gen. Dan K. McNeill, commander of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, was quoted recently as saying as many as 1,000 al-Qaida fighters still operate in small groups on both sides of the mountainous border area.
U.S. and British troops have been scouring border areas in southeastern Afghanistan - including Paktika province - for weeks for al-Qaida and Taliban holdouts. They have found several weapons caches, but few fighters.
U.S. and British forces patrolling the region have uncovered large weapons caches in the past week, including rocket-propelled grenades, rifle ammunition, two howitzers and 22 anti-personnel mines. It was not known if the arms belonged to al-Qaida, the Taliban or to warlords.
U.S. forces there have also come under occasional rocket or mortar fire, though no soldiers have been injured.
U.S. officials said Tuesday that American forces are pursuing clues that important al-Qaida or Taliban figures may be hiding north of Paktika, in the Afghan border province of Kunar.
"More things are pointing in that direction," said Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He said recent information suggests that "people of interest" to U.S. and allied forces may be in the area.
By MUNIR AHMAD Associated Press Writer
Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved
"More things are pointing in that direction," said Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He said recent information suggests that "people of interest" to U.S. and allied forces may be in the area.
Hmmmm...
This is very unfortunate.
It is about time. It has always been my fear every since these martyr cowards began their flight into Pakistan, that eventually they, along with their sympathizers would try to overthrow the government there. That would not be good. On Fox this morning, it was said that the Pakistan government has little or no control over the area where these martyrs by mouth only are seeking refuge.
Anti-terror drive in tribal areas next weekhttp://www.frontierpost.com.pk/main.asp?id=5&date1=6/26/2002 |
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| Fakhar-ur-Rehman | ||
| Updated on 6/26/2002 12:23:11 PM | ||
ISLAMABAD: All is set for a joint military operation involving Pakistani and American troops in the northwestern tribal areas of Pakistan, sources privy to the developments said. The offensive may come as early as the beginning of next week. It will complement the continued coalition search for Saudi dissident Usama Bin Laden and his top aides in the southeastern parts of Afghanistan. The sources said that the operation is based on new intelligence shared by the United States with Pakistani authorities about the location of main Al Qaeda members and Usama Bin Laden. The development came following the visit of the Central Command (CENTCOM) Chief General Tommy Frank to Islamabad and telephonic conversation between the President General Pervez Musharraf with Secretary of State Colin Powel. A US Senator Bob Graham has said on Sunday Bin Laden was “probably” in Pakistan. “Our best Intelligence estimate continues to be that he is alive and probably someplace in those tribal areas on the western side of Pakistan,” Graham told a US news channel. Air reconnaissance units and military gunship helicopters along with trained mount soldiers would take part in a four-faceted night operation. Joint teams of Pak-US troops have been engaged in raids in the North Waziristan region of the tribal areas for some time. Reportedly, US forces have also come under rocket attacks in Miranshah. Pakistan has said American participation in the operations underway in the tribal areas is limited to only “a few communication experts”, and that no US troops were present there. US officials have stated that 1,100 troops are present in Pakistan. In the nine-month-old so-called war of US against terrorism, Pakistani authorities have arrested more than 300 Al Qaeda suspects who have crossed in to Pakistan from Afghanistan. US authorities have been highly appreciative of Pakistan’s cooperation in this adventure. |
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