Islamabad, Jan 17: Pakistani security forces today hunted for 10 injured militants including a senior al-Qaeda member after an army air strike destroyed a training camp near the Afghan border.
Yesterday, helicopter gunships knocked out a compound in the Zamazula area of south Waziristan tribal district, 360 kilometres southwest of the capital Islamabad, killing an
unknown number of militants.
Military officials initially said up to 30 militants were believed killed although authorities later said they had so far found only eight bodies.
Among those who escaped was Abu Nasser, who holds a senior position in Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, according to security sources.
"Yesterday's raid was launched after intelligence reports that Nasser is using the place as a base to train militants," said a senior security official, speaking on condition of
anonymity.
"He was injured in the attack but he managed to slip out of the compound along with four other Arab accomplices," he said, without giving details about Nasser's nationality or
position in al-Qaeda. "He is being searched for now."
The strike was the first in south Waziristan since authorities signed an agreement with tribal elders in February 2005, sparking nearly two years of relative peace.
Locals alleged the strike killed Afghan labourers and two local tribesmen who were cutting woods in the forest.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, January 17, 2007, 00:00