Pak troops in operation to flush out al-Qaeda

Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said military operations were launched after the end of the deadline given to the local population to surrender the foreign militants hiding there.

The operation followed an amnesty offer by Musharraf to all the foreign militants willing to surrender. Musharraf had promised not to hand over the surrendered militants to any foreign powers.

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This was the third operation launched by Pakistan Army in the recent months in the same area to apprehend foreign militants.

Rashid told reporters here that Pakistani forces have been sent to South Waziristan Tribal Area to apprehend the suspects. "This action is part of Pakistan's commitment with the international coalition," he said, adding the operations would be conducted by Pakistan forces alone and not by any foreign forces.

"We will not enter into other's territory and will not allow others to violate our boundaries," Rashid said, when asked if US forces would take part in the operation.

AFP adds: Pakistani tribesmen in the rugged semi-autonomous region bordering Afghanistan have handed over dozens of people suspected of sheltering al-Qaeda militants, a government official said yesterday.