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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| 100 foreigners left in Waziristan: General Khattak |
| 2004-12-10 |
| The military has blunted the ability of foreign militants in South Waziristan to mount attacks, with the result that they are now fleeing the tribal agency and only around a hundred remain in the area, field commander Major General Niaz Khattak told a briefing here on Thursday. The military estimated earlier this year that there were around 600 foreign militants in the area. "We have taken the sting out of them," he said. "They are trying to get out and unable to plan attacks. Their command structure has been disrupted. They are moving out of operation zones," said Gen Khattak, who took charge of operations to secure Wazir areas in March this year. Wireless communication between militants intercepted by security forces showed that they are on the run and unable to maintain contact with each other, he claimed. The security forces have smashed terrorist training camps in Wazir and Mehsud areas, he said, adding that the 70,000 army troops would stay in Waziristan unless local tribes stood on their own feet to defend themselves. He said around 200 Pakistani troops had died in fighting since March. He could not say the number of terrorists killed, as their accomplices usually take the bodies of fallen comrades with them, making it hard to assess the death toll accurately. Pressed on reports in western media that Al Qaeda chief Osama Bin Laden might be hiding in Waziristan, he said: "I have got no leads to suggest he is in Waziristan," but added that Uzbek militant leader Tahir Yuldashev might still be hiding in the region. He denied media reports that the Peshawar corps commander had reached a "secret deal" with former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Abdullah Mehsud, saying the one-legged militant leader must surrender unconditionally and get foreigners registered before the government would negotiate with him. He said the Wazir tribes had realised that the foreigners had exploited their traditional hospitality. "Either the Uzbeks or Chechens will leave, or the Pukhtoons will continue to suffer," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |