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Pak army launches operation against foreign suspects

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, Feb 24, IRNA - Pakistan army on Tuesday launched major 
operation in remote tribal areas, bordering Afghanistan, to capture 
al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects, believed to be hiding there, an army 
spokesman said. 
"We are tightening noose around terror suspects," spokesman 
Major General Shaukat Sultan said. Sultan did not give more details. 
Local people in Wana, the center of South Waziristan, said they 
have seen helicopters landed in military bases. 
Reports from the area suggest that 14 helicopters landed in 
Zair Noor military colony. 
A large number of army men and paramilitary scouts had been 
busy preparing for the operation for few days. 
Security officer in Waziristan Mehmood Shah said the operation 
was in preliminary stage and nothing could be said at this stage. 
Political Agent Wana Rehmatullah Wazir confirmed arrival of 
helicopters, but did not give further details. 
Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed also confirmed 
launching of the operation. 
US forces in Afghanistan have said they are stepping up the 
hunt for Osama Bin Laden, who is believed to be in the border area. 
CIA chief George Tenet secretly visited Pakistan earlier this 
month to share information on the al-Qaeda leader, reports say. 
Pakistani and US officials have denied reports that Osama bin 
Laden has not been spotted and that the operation is not targeting 
him. 
The authorities had given February 20 deadline to local 
tribesmen to hand over suspected sympathizers accused of 
harboring foreign militants. 
Pakistan`s information minister said Pakistani forces are 
conducting the operation and there is no foreign troop involved. 
Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri denied reports in British 
Sunday Express newspaper that Osama was cornered and said no such 
information had been passed on to Pakistan. 
Pakistan has been a key ally of the United States since it 
launched its war on terror after devastating attacks on New York 
and Washington in 2001. 
Islamabad has deployed some 70,000 troops along the porous 
Afghan border to hunt members of al-Qaeda and the former Taleban 
who are believed to be hiding in the area. 
About 500 suspects have been detained, and many sent for 
interrogation by the US military at Guantanamo Bay. 
President General Musharraf said last week that foreign terror 
suspects would not be handed over to any country if they surrendered. 
The last time Pakistani forces were involved in a major crackdown 
in Waziristan, in October 2003, US helicopters patrolled the Afghan 
side of the border to stop suspects escaping. 
TK/TSH/213 
End