'Foreign militants eliminated from tribal areas'

Security forces have taken complete control of the tribal areas of South Waziristan and have almost eliminated foreign militants from the area. Pak Army officer in-charge of operations, said troops had smashed a network of al Qaeda militants in the area and a total of 306 militants had been killed since the operation was launched in March last year. "According to our intelligence reports, now we think there is absolutely none in South Waziristan," General Officer Commanding, Major General Niaz Khattak Saturday told a group of foreign and local newsmen in Karavan Manza area of South Waziritsan.
Major General Khattak said some 100 militants were believed to be hiding in small parts in the neighbouring North Waziristan region. He said militants were no longer capable of regrouping and attacking security forces. "They are no more active," he stated.
The journalists were told that 100 foreigners, many of them Central Asians were among those killed during the operation.
He said a total of 52 operations had been conducted against al Qaeda linked militants and their local supporters in South Waziristan. So far no senior al Qaeda or Taleban figure has been caught in the area and Major General Khattak said there was no indication of the presence of any 'high value target' in the area.
"There is also no possibility of the presence of Osama bin Laden or any of his close aide in Waziristan," he added.
He said the local tribesmen were now co-operating with the authorities.
He said Abdullah Mehsood, wanted for kidnapping Chinese engineers was still alive and absconding. General Khattak rejected the possibility of any major military operation in North Waziristan as was claimed by former head of United States forces in Afghanistan, General David Barno last month.
"There would be no operation unless information about the presence of militant is received," he said.
Pakistan military had angrily reacted to the US general's claims that Islamabad was planning a new offensive against militants in its Waziristan tribal region.
General Khattak said check posts would remain in the area until the foreign militants were completely eliminated.
Pakistan has deployed about 70,000 troops along the border with Afghanistan in its operation against foreign militants and their local collaborators.