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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Pakistan air raid on 'militants' | Pakistan air raid on 'militants' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Pakistani army says it has carried out air strikes on camps used by militants in the tribal area of South Waziristan near the Afghanistan border. | The Pakistani army says it has carried out air strikes on camps used by militants in the tribal area of South Waziristan near the Afghanistan border. |
| Army spokesman Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan said most of the 25-30 militants in the camps had been killed. | Army spokesman Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan said most of the 25-30 militants in the camps had been killed. |
| The army had used combat helicopters to attack the camps in the Zamzola area in South Waziristan, he said. | The army had used combat helicopters to attack the camps in the Zamzola area in South Waziristan, he said. |
| Much of the border region is outside government control and is believed to be a base for al-Qaeda and its leaders. | Much of the border region is outside government control and is believed to be a base for al-Qaeda and its leaders. |
| 'Survivors' | 'Survivors' |
| The army carried out the operation in South Waziristan early on Tuesday after receiving information that militants were hiding in five mud-walled compounds, Maj Gen Sultan said. | The army carried out the operation in South Waziristan early on Tuesday after receiving information that militants were hiding in five mud-walled compounds, Maj Gen Sultan said. |
| "We believe most of them were killed, but we don't have a body count," he said. | "We believe most of them were killed, but we don't have a body count," he said. |
| He said the militants included some foreigners, but "no high-value target was believed to be there". | He said the militants included some foreigners, but "no high-value target was believed to be there". |
| Eyewitnesses say 10 bodies have been dug up so far. Three of them have been identified as local Mahsud tribesmen. | Eyewitnesses say 10 bodies have been dug up so far. Three of them have been identified as local Mahsud tribesmen. |
| At least six other bodies have been identified as those of Afghan nationals, administration officials in South Waziristan say. | |
| Other bodies are unidentifiable as they have been so badly mutilated in the attack. | Other bodies are unidentifiable as they have been so badly mutilated in the attack. |
| Witnesses say that between eight to 10 people appear to have survived the attack with injuries, but no other details are available at the moment. | Witnesses say that between eight to 10 people appear to have survived the attack with injuries, but no other details are available at the moment. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says this kind of strike has become rare within the last year. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says this kind of strike has become rare within the last year. |
| Previously the army had tried to clear al-Qaeda fugitives and other foreign fighters out of the lawless border area, but it encountered such stiff resistance from local tribesmen that it signed peace deals with them. | Previously the army had tried to clear al-Qaeda fugitives and other foreign fighters out of the lawless border area, but it encountered such stiff resistance from local tribesmen that it signed peace deals with them. |
| Tensions | Tensions |
| The senior US commander in Afghanistan, Lt Gen Karl Eikenberry, said that "the enemy" was using both sides of the Afghan-Pakistani border. | The senior US commander in Afghanistan, Lt Gen Karl Eikenberry, said that "the enemy" was using both sides of the Afghan-Pakistani border. |
| "I'd also emphasise that we do have a challenge right now with command and control of the Taleban forces that has to be addressed," he told reporters in Kabul. | "I'd also emphasise that we do have a challenge right now with command and control of the Taleban forces that has to be addressed," he told reporters in Kabul. |
| The general said that the number of cross-border attacks in that area last month was 200% higher than the same period a year ago. He did not give precise figures. | The general said that the number of cross-border attacks in that area last month was 200% higher than the same period a year ago. He did not give precise figures. |
| The Pakistani air strikes came hours after US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Kabul for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. | The Pakistani air strikes came hours after US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Kabul for talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. |
| Earlier this month Pakistan denied allegations made by the US National Intelligence Director, John Negroponte, that leaders of al-Qaeda had found a secure hideout in Pakistan from where they were re-building. | Earlier this month Pakistan denied allegations made by the US National Intelligence Director, John Negroponte, that leaders of al-Qaeda had found a secure hideout in Pakistan from where they were re-building. |
| Islamabad signed controversial peace accords with militants in the semi-autonomous tribal areas of North Waziristan in September 2006 and in South Waziristan in April 2004. | Islamabad signed controversial peace accords with militants in the semi-autonomous tribal areas of North Waziristan in September 2006 and in South Waziristan in April 2004. |
| The deals - intended to end violence between tribal militants and Pakistani troops - increased friction between Afghanistan and Pakistan, two key allies in the US-led "war on terror". | The deals - intended to end violence between tribal militants and Pakistani troops - increased friction between Afghanistan and Pakistan, two key allies in the US-led "war on terror". |
| According to an International Crisis Group report earlier in December, Islamabad had allowed "a virtual mini Taleban-style state" to flourish on the border with Afghanistan. | According to an International Crisis Group report earlier in December, Islamabad had allowed "a virtual mini Taleban-style state" to flourish on the border with Afghanistan. |
| The policy of "appeasement" had allowed militants to regroup and rearm and encouraged a surge in cross-border attacks in Afghanistan, the report said. | The policy of "appeasement" had allowed militants to regroup and rearm and encouraged a surge in cross-border attacks in Afghanistan, the report said. |
| Pakistan rejected the accusations. | Pakistan rejected the accusations. |
| Analysts believe al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden could be hiding in the tribal areas. | Analysts believe al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden could be hiding in the tribal areas. |