Islamabad, Jan 13: Tribesmen in Pakistan's south Wazristan tribal agency bordering Afghanistan launched an operation against wanted Taliban and al-Qaeda terrorists after authorities gave them a deadline of January 15 to capture and hand over 57 foreign fugitives believed to be hiding in the mountains. Several tribes started action following the hand over of the list of 57 terrorists, reports reaching here said.

Already the Gangi Khel tribe handed over three wanted men, Gula Baz Khan, Arsala Khan and Makhan, while local correspondents say most of the wanted men have already fled the area.
South Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan' troubled Paktika province, has remained a hub of al-Qaeda and Taliban activity for quite some time. Pakistan army recently launched operations there stating that it has definite information that the militants were hiding there.

The military crackdown started in the early hours of Thursday morning following intelligence reports that some suspected foreign militants were hiding in the mountains near Waziristan's main town of Wana. Helicopter gunships were also called in to provide air cover to the forces. Four Pakistani soldiers were killed when a rocket hit an army camp in the area on the second day of the operation.

Bureau Report