Posted on 06/13/2004 7:29:16 AM PDT by Valin
WANA, Pakistan (Reuters) - Pakistani forces battled al Qaeda-linked militants Sunday in a fifth day of fighting in a remote tribal region bordering Afghanistan, where several army posts came under rocket attack, witnesses said.
Artillery fire boomed in the Shakai area of South Waziristan, 250 miles southwest of Islamabad, where Pakistani forces were trying to flush-out foreign and local militants from their mountain hideouts, witnesses said.
"Our houses shook because of the artillery fire all night," said one resident in Wana, the main town of South Waziristan. The army was hitting targets in the Shakai area.
Militants fired rockets at two remote Pakistani posts near the Afghan border Saturday night, but there was no reports of casualties, residents said. The posts are some distance away from the battle-zone.
More than 50 combatants -- 35 militants and 15 soldiers -- were killed in the first two days of fighting, the army said. Since then, the army has not updated the figure but official sources said the number of casualties in the five days of fighting was much higher.
Pakistan says up to 600 foreign militants, including Arabs, Chechens and Uzbeks linked to Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, have been hiding out in the semi-autonomous tribal areas, protected by Pakistani tribesmen.
Pakistani forces sent air force jets to bomb militant hideouts Friday for the first time -- raising the stakes in the war against al Qaeda in the country.
In March, Pakistan used helicopter gunships in heavy clashes against the militants in which more than 120 people, including at least 46 soldiers, 63 militants, and some civilians were killed.
No fresh air-strikes were carried out overnight and early Sunday, residents said.
Pakistani forces are targeting suspected training camps and safe-houses of militants. The houses of residents thought to be supporting militants are also being destroyed.
Top al Qaeda leaders -- including possibly bin Laden -- are believed to be hiding out in Pakistan's mountainous tribal region.
The U.S. military in Afghanistan has said it has employed a "hammer and anvil" approach in coordination with the Pakistani military to prevent militants escaping across the border.
The Pakistani operation near Wana was launched amid a broad operation by U.S. and Afghan forces across several provinces of southern Afghanistan aimed at improving security for Afghan elections due in September.
The U.S. military said Saturday more than 80 militants had been killed in that operation over the past three weeks.
In Pakistan, the army said it launched the latest offensive in the tribal regions after attempts to negotiate an amnesty with tribesmen protecting foreign militants failed.
"We want them to surrender or they will be wiped out," said a security official speaking on condition of anonymity.
"We have identified 16 more compounds and places in the Shakai area that are being used by militants," he said. "They are also being targeted," he added, declining to give details.
Authorities fear that shadowy Islamic militant groups could launch attacks in other parts of the country in response to the operation in the tribal region.
Thursday, a Pakistan army commander narrowly escaped assassination when a gun and bomb attack on his convoy killed 10 people in the port city of Karachi.
Security has been heightened at Western establishments, sensitive government installations and places of worship in major cities because of fears of more such assaults by militants sympathetic to al Qaeda, officials said.
Pakistan has already witnessed a spate of assaults on religious minorities, top government officials and Westerners. Six months ago, President General Pervez Musharraf survived two assassination attempts that were blamed on al Qaeda-linked militants. Later Musharraf revealed several low-ranking military personnel were also involved.
Hard-line Pakistani Islamic groups are furious over their government's decision to back the United States in a war against terror after the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.
Getting close?
Our houses shook because of the artillery fire ......
Who was the interviewer....
Why was the house not destroyed?
Is the Paki army effective off the parade ground?
We've been having a private Paki party over here. You're welcome to join........
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1137369/posts
Why was the house not destroyed?
Do you think it might be because the house in question was near the arty, and not the target?
Actually, Admsmith has been hosting a Paki party for quite a while........
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1119914/posts?q=1&&page=1#1
HMMMM... Interesting thought. Could be.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.