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30 militants killed in Pakistani assault
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-11 13:26
Pakistani soldiers backed by helicopter gunships targeted a suspected
militant hideout near the Afghan border, killing about 30 militants in a
volatile tribal region that has seen repeated clashes in the past week, a
military spokesman said Saturday.
Soldiers of
Pakistan army display arms and ammunition claimed to be recovered from
militants in Pakistan's tribal region of north Waziristan, Friday, Mar 10,
2006 in Peshawar, Pakistan. Government officials with the help of tribal
elders tried to pacify pro-Taliban tribesmen to ensure peace after more
than 100 militants were estimated killed in recent days, an official said.
[AP] |
The spokesman, Gen. Shaulat Sultan, said the attack was launched late Friday
near Miran Shah, the main town in North Waziristan. Sultan would not reveal the
identity or nationality of the slain men, but told The Associated Press the
attack was launched using "authentic intelligence, and according to our
information about 30 miscreants, who included foreigners, were killed."
An intelligence official in the region said the targeted compound belonged to
a pro-Taliban cleric, Maulvi Sadiq Noor, although it was not clear whether he
was there at the time. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because
he was not authorized to speak to the media.
Noor and other pro-Taliban tribesmen have been targeted since earlier this
week when their armed men captured government buildings following a military
attack on an al-Qaida hideout near Miran Shah. Over 100 suspects and eight
soldiers were killed in the fighting.
Days later, authorities imposed a curfew in Miran Shah after regaining
control of government buildings from militants, who are believed to have
retreated to nearby mountains.
Sultan said the raid late Friday blew up a cache of weapons.
Pakistan is a key ally of the United States and has asked tribal elders to
evict foreign militants and their supporters from their areas or prepare for
military action.
The recent clashes in North Waziristan were the worst in Pakistan's tribal
regions since 2004 when scores of al-Qaida militants, troops and local fighters
died during fighting in the neighboring region of South Waziristan.
Officials say members of Afghanistan's toppled Taliban regime and al-Qaida
militants continue to hide in Pakistan's lawless tribal regions near the Afghan
border.
The recent unrest has compelled thousands of residents to flee to safer
areas, but on Friday, some shops reopened and several families began returning
home.
Farid Ullah, 34, who had fled to the nearby town of Mir Ali with his wife and
five children, told The Associated Press that he had returned to Miran Shah
after hearing that fighting had ended.
"We pray for peace, and we ask the government to avoid the use of force and
to try to resolve all issues through peaceful means," he said as his family
walked to the town.
Sher Nawaz, 38, a tribesman, said he had also returned after living with his
relatives in a nearby village for three days.
Pakistan has deployed 80,000 troops and mounted a series of military
operations in tribal regions to flush out militants. Pro-Taliban tribesmen
insist that most of the people killed in the army raids were innocent civilians,
a charge the military denies.
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