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WANA (South Waziristan): Pakistan's authorities are gearing up for a drive against al Qaeda and Taliban militants in remote western tribal areas, a foreign news agency reported on Sunday.

However a statement by a spokesman of the Inter-services Public Relations, issued in Islamabad says; 'no way the movement of troops at this moment indicates that any operation is being carried out in the area.'

Foreign News Agency Report

The foreign news agency quotes Muhammad Azam Khan, an official in South Waziristan as saying, "We have built up enough pressure on these people and we should not let this pressure ease. These people are on the run and we are also determined to end this menace once and for all."

"The U.S. military has also said that it will launch a spring offensive against rebels in Afghanistan in what could be part of a concerted effort to find bin Laden", the report said.

Armed Check-Posts

Witnesses in Wana said that armed check-posts were being set up on main routes to prevent militants from escaping.

"There is a lot of excitement in the town. People are anxious about the operation, but so far it is business, going on as usual in the bazaar," one resident said.

Political authorities had asked tribal leaders to surrender more than 80 clan members, wanted for harboring or assisting al Qaeda militants, the news agency said.

Forty Handed-over

So far more than 40 tribesmen have been handed over by local leaders, but authorities say they are in touch with tribal elders after some 'key suspects [reportedly] escaped.'

Leading Afghan analyst Rahimullah Yusufzai is of the view that 'those handed over to the authorities had not provided much useful information about al Qaeda members, but those who had avoided arrest could be more informative.'

Officials hope that the operation would net clues that would ultimately lead to the biggest goal. "Right now, we are not chasing bin Laden, but the purpose of all past efforts was to capture him," they said. "We are now tracking al-Qaida fugitives to get clues from them about him [bin Laden]."

Security

Security has been stepped up in the tribal region so that no one could escape arrest, an American news network reports by adding; 'the operation comes amid rising speculation in the local press that the U.S. military is planning a spring offensive in Afghanistan to capture bin Laden.'

'Boxed In'

Britain's Sunday Express newspaper reported that bin Laden and a small group of followers had been "boxed in" by U.S. and British special forces in the mountains on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.

Citing "two senior American sources" — a senior Republican and an intelligence source — the newspaper said bin Laden was within a 10-by-10- ile area being monitored by a U.S. satellite.

'Sunday Express' Report Rejected

Rejecting the report, Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Saturday that to his knowledge bin Laden has not been "boxed in." "I do not have any such information," he said.

Gen. David Barno

Earlier this week, the top American general in Afghanistan, U.S. Lt. Gen. David Barno, said that he hoped that efforts by Pakistan, together with a change in U.S. counter-insurgency tactics in Afghanistan, would create a "hammer-and-anvil" effect to trap al-Qaida fighters between U.S. and Pakistani authorities.

Support

Authorities have been meeting with tribal chiefs for at least six weeks in Pakistan to seek their optimal support. A deadline has been given to tribal elders to surrender these people.

Authorities have promised that they will not be extradited if they surrender and hand in their weapons.

ISPR contradicts news item attributed to PA WANA

Meanwhile, in Islamabad a spokesman of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Sunday contradicted a news item attributed to Political Agent South Waziristan Agency that the civil administration of the Tribal areas have sought more deployments of para-military troops in the area.

The Spokesman referring to the news item said the Political Agent did not issue any such statement and has been quoted out of context.

The spokesman added that no way the movement of troops at this moment indicates that any operation is being carried out in the area.

'Troops deployed as Precautionary Measure'

Pakistan's Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Sunday said the deployment of Pakistan Army troops in WANA has been made as a precautionary step.

"The troops of Pakistan Army have moved into WANA area swiftly and this deployment has been made as a precautionary measure", he said while talking to journalists in Islamabad.

These troops, he said, have been deployed on Pakistani land and they would operate on country's soil. "Neither they will join any other country's force nor any other country's force will join them," he categorically stated.

Vigil

The troops will not only keep vigil over the illegal entry of any undesired element from across Afghanistan but also ensure security and integrity of the country, he said.

The Minister said this step is not any individual specific but it is a part of the Pakistan's commitment to the international community against terrorism.

Fifty Terrorists Surrender

Some fifty terrorists have already surrendered to the civil administration of the area during the amnesty period announced by the government, Sheikh Rashid said.

Answering a question, the minister said that the US had not provided any satellite pictures of Al-Qaeda leaders including Osama or Dr Al-Zawahiri to Pakistan.

No Fresh Offensive

Sheikh Rashid Ahmed dispelling the impression that any fresh offensive was launched said that the troops have moved in to augment the existing deployment in the area.

"More troops have been sent to effectively cover those areas, along the borders, where the deployments were thin to check the sneaking of terrorist elements from across Afghanistan."

When asked about the number of the fresh troops deployments, he said, these are sufficient to meet the security requirements in the area.

Nukes Assets

When his comments were sought about the security of the country's nuclear assets, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said these are in safe hands. "There is no danger to the nuclear assets, these are well guarded and in safe hands," he said.