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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (45608)	2/24/2004 5:52:01 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 50167

Operation started in South Waziristan (Updated at 1445 PST) ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of Pakistani troops backed by helicopter gun ships Tuesday launched an operation against suspected Al-Qaeda fighters in the northwestern tribal region bordering Afghanistan, the military said, Geo news channel reported. The operation was aimed at foreign militants, believed to be mainly Uzbeks as well as some Chechens, in an area of the semi-autonomous tribal agency of South Waziristan, some 300 kilometres (180 miles) southwest of Islamabad. ’The new operation targets Zarkai area where suspected foreign terrorists are hiding,’ The official did not say how many militants were hiding in the mountainous region, but the operation began after tribal leaders on Monday handed over dozens of people accused of sheltering Al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters. The Pakistani military said in a statement the operation was launched after the militants ignored a February 20 deadline to surrender and the government received a tip-off about militant positions. "Being a frontline partner in the war on terror, this operation manifests continued resolve of the Pakistan government to follow its policy despite risks involved," said the statement. The US military last week said it would launch an operation on the Afghan side of the border in a "hammer and anvil" operation with the Pakistanis to trap the militants. But it was unclear if a US offensive was underway Tuesday. A dozen helicopters circled the territory before the troops went into action, said the official, who said the operation was proceeding smoothly and that so far the troops had not met resistance.