I don't have much confidence in Pakistan. If this was a US operation, those mud fortresses would be flat, and those inside would be dead or talking by now.
news.bbc.co.uk
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Militants free Pakistan hostages
The Pakistani operation was the largest of its kind
Militants linked to al-Qaeda have released 14 hostages they seized at the beginning of a Pakistani offensive on the Afghan border 12 days ago.
The announcement was made by a security official in the South Waziristan area.
Mahmood Shah also said the Pakistani troops had begun withdrawing, having completed their mission.
A senior al-Qaeda leader was initially suspected of being among the militants - al-Qaeda and Taleban members, and their local supporters.
More than 35 soldiers are known to have died in the South Waziristan operation, along with a number of militants.
The army operation focused on an area west of the town of Wana, where they set up a wide cordon in the search for foreign militants and tribesmen supporting them.
Success?
Tribal leaders had been trying for days to secure the release of the 12 Pakistani soldiers and two government officials.
The Yargulkhel tribesmen had insisted they would not release the hostages until the army ceased its operation in South Waziristan.
Troops began withdrawing to Wana on Sunday after "destroying dens, searching of homes, taking people into custody and the recovery of gadgets and equipment," Mr Shah said.
"The main objectives of the operation have been achieved," he said, adding that the overall mission to drive al-Qaeda forces out of Pakistan would continue.
US co-ordination
Pakistan's largest military operation began on 16 March with the aim of catching or killing al-Qaeda leaders and their supporters in the area.
Initially al-Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al-Zawahri was believed to have been among them.
However, a tape recording purportedly by Mr Zawahri was aired on Arabic television during the offensive - and deemed by the American CIA to be probably authentic, even though the time of its recording could not be established.
The Pakistani operation was being co-ordinated with a similar sweep by US forces on the other side of the border.
The US has announced it is sending up to 2,000 more marines to Afghanistan to step up the hunt for Osama Bin Laden and other al-Qaeda and Taleban leaders. |
