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Pakistan air raid destroys school Pakistan air raid destroys school
(40 minutes later)
The Pakistani military says it has destroyed a religious school in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan.The Pakistani military says it has destroyed a religious school in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan.
The army said the school in the Bajaur tribal agency was used for terrorist activities and it was destroyed by helicopter gunships on Monday morning. The army said the school in the Bajaur tribal agency was used to train militants and it was destroyed by helicopter gunships on Monday morning.
There were about 70 to 80 people inside the school at the time of the attack, a spokesman said. There was no immediate word on casualties.There were about 70 to 80 people inside the school at the time of the attack, a spokesman said. There was no immediate word on casualties.
Pakistan has deployed nearly 80,000 troops along the border.Pakistan has deployed nearly 80,000 troops along the border.
They are there to hunt down militants who sought refuge in the rugged tribal terrain after the ousting of the Taleban in Afghanistan in late 2001.They are there to hunt down militants who sought refuge in the rugged tribal terrain after the ousting of the Taleban in Afghanistan in late 2001.
Monday morning's attack took place near Khar, the main town in the Bajaur.Monday morning's attack took place near Khar, the main town in the Bajaur.
The Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed military spokesman as saying that no prominent militant was believed to be in the school compound during the attack. The Reuters news agency quoted a military spokesman as saying that no prominent militant was believed to be in the school compound during the attack.
Controversial
"We received confirmed intelligence reports that 70-80 militants were hiding in a madrassah [religious school] used as a terrorist training facility, which was destroyed by an army stroke, led by helicopters," army spokesman Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan told the Associated Press news agency."We received confirmed intelligence reports that 70-80 militants were hiding in a madrassah [religious school] used as a terrorist training facility, which was destroyed by an army stroke, led by helicopters," army spokesman Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan told the Associated Press news agency.
An eyewitness told the BBC that the religious school was filled with about 80 local students who had resumed studies after the Muslim Eid holidays.
Peace talks
The attack came two days after local militants attended a rally in the area where they declared the al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and Taleban chief Mullah Muhammad Omar as their heroes.The attack came two days after local militants attended a rally in the area where they declared the al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and Taleban chief Mullah Muhammad Omar as their heroes.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says Monday morning's attack coincides with peace talks between tribal elders and pro-Taleban militants in Bajaur.
The government had already released prisoners in anticipation of a deal, possibly along the lines of an agreement signed in the neighbouring tribal region of North Waziristan, our correspondent says.
But the army says peace talks would not be allowed to serve as a cover for militant activity.
Bajaur, which borders Afghanistan's insurgency-plagued eastern province of Kunar, was the scene of a controversial US air strike in January, believed to be aimed at Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri.Bajaur, which borders Afghanistan's insurgency-plagued eastern province of Kunar, was the scene of a controversial US air strike in January, believed to be aimed at Al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri.
The 13 January raid killed at least 18 people, mostly civilians.The 13 January raid killed at least 18 people, mostly civilians.
In May, Pakistani authorities said a senior al-Qaeda figure, Abu Marwan al-Suri, had been killed in Bajaur during a clash with local police.In May, Pakistani authorities said a senior al-Qaeda figure, Abu Marwan al-Suri, had been killed in Bajaur during a clash with local police.