No Qaeda in S Waziristan: Pak

Pakistan's Army on Sunday claimed its forces have taken almost complete control of tribal areas of South Waziristan and eliminated foreign m...

Pakistan’s Army on Sunday claimed its forces have taken almost complete control of tribal areas of South Waziristan and eliminated foreign militants owning allegiance to Al Qaeda in the area after months of gunbattles.

The officer-in-charge of military operations near the Afghan border said troops have smashed a network of Al Qaeda militants in the area and that a total of 306 militants have been killed since the operation was launched in March last year.

‘‘According to our intelligence reports and now we think there is absolutely none in South Waziristan,’’ general officer commanding Maj-Gen Niaz Khattak told a group of foreign and local journalists in Karavan Manza area of South Waziritsan on Sunday.

Story continues below this ad

General Khattak said some 100 militants are believed to be hiding in small parts in the neighbouring North Waziristan region.

He said a total of 52 operations have been conducted against Al Qaeda-linked militants and their local supporters in South Waziristan.

Asked whether Al Qaeda Chief Osama bin Laden was in the area, Khattak said there is 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 said. ‘‘We never got any information on his whereabouts in South Waziristan. Al Qaeda is no more able to operate here. Their sanctuaries have been destroyed,’’ he said.

Wankhede has claimed that the series disseminates a misleading and negative portrayal of anti-drug enforcement agencies, thereby eroding public confidence in law enforcement institutions.

‘Intent to malign reputation’: Sameer Wankhede moves Delhi HC against Aryan Khan

Cities3 hr ago

IRS officer Sameer Wankhede filed a defamation suit against the production company, Netflix, and others for the "misleading" and "negative" portrayal of anti-drug agencies in the series 'Ba****ds of Bollywood'. He claims the series was deliberately made to tarnish his reputation and erode public confidence in law enforcement institutions.

View all shorts

Live Blog