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Top al-Qaeda man cornered
18/03/2004 22:33 - (SA)
Islamabad - Pakistani troops believe they have surrounded al-Qaeda No 2 Ayman al-Zawahri in an operation near the Afghan border, said three senior Pakistani officials on Thursday.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said intelligence indicated al-Zawahri has been cornered in an operation that began on Tuesday in South Waziristan, involving hundreds of troops and paramilitary rangers.
"We have been receiving intelligence and information from our agents who are working in the tribal areas that al-Zawahri could be among the people hiding there," said a military official.
"All of our efforts are to capture him."
An intelligence official and senior politician in President General Pervez Musharraf's government both confirmed the account.
In an interview with CNN, Musharraf said he had spoken with the commander of Pakistani troops in the region.
He said the commander reported "fierce resistance" from a group of fighters entrenched in fortress-like buildings, and that there were indications that a senior figure was surrounded.
Using helicopter gunships
"He's reasonably sure there's a high-value target there," said Musharraf.
Hundreds of Pakistani troops have moved into three South Waziristan towns - Azam Warsak, Shin Warsak and Kaloosha - firing artillery and using helicopter gunships against entrenched positions.
At least 41 people - including 15 soldiers and 26 suspected militants - were killed in fighting in the area on Tuesday.
Army spokesperson General Shaukat Sultan said there had been an unknown number of casualties in continued action on Thursday.
The military said on Thursday that most of those killed were foreigners, but didn't give their nationalities, and acknowledged that only two of the bodies had been recovered.
One of the two dead militants whose bodies were recovered was a Chechen and the other was believed to be of Middle Eastern origin, a military official said.
Believed bin Laden was still alive
The news came on the same day that United States secretary of state Colin Powell was in Islamabad and announced that Washington was bestowing the status of "major non-Nato ally" on Pakistan.
Powell also praised the country for its help in the war on terror.
Powell, who left the country hours before the announcement, also said he believed there was evidence that al-Qaeda No 1 Osama bin Laden is still alive and hiding in the rugged border area.
"No one has seen him, so how can one be sure?" Powell told Geo TV.
"He has certainly given evidence that he is alive and active. But, we can't be sure.
"And, if he is alive and active, and the evidence suggests that he is, and if he is in the area of the Pakistan-Afghan border, that's a very difficult area to find someone who doesn't want to be found."
- AP
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