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Sun, Mar. 12, 2006 Pakistan says 30 militants dead after troops raid hideout By Munir Ahmad Associated Press ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - Pakistani soldiers backed by helicopter gunships attacked a suspected militant hideout in Pakistan's volatile tribal region near the Afghan border and killed about 30 fighters, an army spokesman said yesterday.
Gen. Shaulat Sultan would not reveal the identities or nationalities of those killed late Friday near the town of Miran Shah, the scene of repeated clashes between security forces and militants in the last week.
"We did that with full accuracy on authentic intelligence, and according to our information, about 30 miscreants, who included foreigners, were killed," he said.
No security forces were hurt, and all those at the hideout were killed, he said, adding that a large cache of weapons had been blown up.
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.
The official said security forces were hunting for more foreigners believed to be hiding in the region.
Noor and other pro-Taliban tribesmen have been targeted since early last week, when armed men took over government buildings after a military attack on an al-Qaeda hideout near Miran Shah. More than 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.
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-Qaeda members, troops and local fighters died during fighting in neighboring South Waziristan.
Officials say members of Afghanistan's toppled Taliban regime and al-Qaeda members continue to hide in Pakistan's lawless tribal regions near the Afghan border.
Keep up the good work !!! :giggling:
Gen. Shaulat Sultan would not reveal the identities or nationalities of those killed late Friday near the town of Miran Shah, the scene of repeated clashes between security forces and militants in the last week.
"We did that with full accuracy on authentic intelligence, and according to our information, about 30 miscreants, who included foreigners, were killed," he said.
No security forces were hurt, and all those at the hideout were killed, he said, adding that a large cache of weapons had been blown up.
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.
The official said security forces were hunting for more foreigners believed to be hiding in the region.
Noor and other pro-Taliban tribesmen have been targeted since early last week, when armed men took over government buildings after a military attack on an al-Qaeda hideout near Miran Shah. More than 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.
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-Qaeda members, troops and local fighters died during fighting in neighboring South Waziristan.
Officials say members of Afghanistan's toppled Taliban regime and al-Qaeda members continue to hide in Pakistan's lawless tribal regions near the Afghan border.
Keep up the good work !!! :giggling:
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