Pakistani military and paramilitary troops arrested at least 20 people, including foreigners, in an operation conducted Tuesday against suspected Al Qaeda members and their tribal hosts in the hilly terrain near the border with Afghanistan. The security forces, armed with automatic weapons and aided by gunship helicopters, conducted search and raid operations in South Waziristan, a tribal region that is a notorious haven for Al Qaeda and Taliban remnants. Men and women were detained in the six-hour operation, which also netted weapons, audiocassettes, and passports. The latest roundup marks the beginning of a more intrusive approach in Pakistan’s ongoing – and increasingly productive – efforts to eradicate militants within its borders. The incursion into the sensitive semiautonomous zone appeared designed to force further cooperation from tribal leaders and dislodge fighters from their hideouts, The stepped up military presence also may lay the groundwork for a major strike, widely anticipated this spring, in coordination with US forces across the border. Full Story
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