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WANA (South Waziristan): An all-out operation, set off by authorities Thursday to hunt and cage al-Qaeda terrorists in the rugged terrains of Wana has been extended to two more villages.

The operation in and around Wana was re-launched on early Thursday morning for the arrest of the wanted people in the area.

Fresh Operation

Credible sources told 'Pakistan Times' late on Thursday night that the newest operation was extended to two more villages Katkle, and Pasha Ghande in Azam Warsak areas.

Meanwhile, Secretary FATA Brigadier Mehmood Shah says that the wanted foreign elements were present in the area, who can not speak Pashto Language.

Pakistani forces heard voice of these people on wireless, which proved that foreigners were also among them, he said.

'Surrender or Die'

A Western media report says that the Pakistan Army says it has launched an attack on al Qaeda militants thought to be protecting Osama bin Laden's deputy.

The attack follows a "surrender or die" ultimatum which expired at 7am this morning British time.

The report says that ealier Pakistan set 'a deadline for the surrender of cornered militants believed to be protecting al-Zawahri'.

"Al Qaeda's top strategist Ayman al-Zawahri is thought to be holed up in a mud fort in South Waziristan - one of the most remote parts of a lawless tribal region on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border", the report said.

The army has given a deadline of 12:00 Noon PST [07:00 GMT] for the surrender.

As dawn broke over the area today, small-arms fire was heard, after intermittent shots through the night. "I can hear Kalashnikov (rifle) fire from the militants' side. The troops must have moved forward," said one resident.

Aircraft were heard during the night but they did not appear to drop bombs or fire guns or rockets.

Army, Gunship Helis

The Wana operation started by Frontier Corps and Militia has been re-launched on Thursday with the help from Army and gunship helicopters, Secretary FATA said, yet he did not elucidate the specific number of the troops participating in the operation.

He said that the operation has been re-launched, with reinforcement, to arrest the militants who were in a large number than expected and as such they could not be nabbed in the previous operation.

No Time-Limit

The operation will continue unless these elements were combed out of Pakistan. He said that the local population was given three hours for evacuation from the area following which the operation was launched at around 10 am in the morning.

Heavy Arms

On the other hand, firing was continued in Azam Warsak area and heavy arms were being used. A shell hit a house in the area, killing a 13-year-old boy and wounding eight others.

The eyewitnesses said that more troops were witnessed heading to Azam Warsak area.

Ayman al-Zawahri

Troops believe they have surrounded al-Qaeda No 2 Ayman al-Zawahri in an operation near the Afghan border, a news network reports.

A possible air strike is planned on the suspected al Qaeda target who is surrounded by troops in Pakistan, sources have said. It is thought that the target could be Osama bin Laden's second in command, Ayman al-Zawahri.

Though officials in Islamabad describe this story as a 'speculation' some reports suggest that "the Egyptian-born al-Zawahri has been cornered in an operation that began on Tuesday in South Waziristan, and involved hundreds of troops and the Rangers".

"We have been receiving information from our agents who are working in the tribal areas that al-Zawahri 'could be' among the people hiding there," an official said by adding; "All of our efforts are to capture him."

Pitched Battle

"A pitched battle is going on there. The way these people are resisting, we think there is someone important over there. We think al-Zawahri may be holed up there," another source said. When asked if Osama might have been caught up, another source said: "No, he is not there."

Yet another information indicates that the 18 suspects arrested during the offensive indicated that al-Zawahri was, 'probably injured in the operation'.

Shelling

Only sounds of the continuous shelling could be heard in the city, which is plunged into complete darkness. The shelling destroyed a house of one Deen Mohammad who succumbed to his injuries in the hospital while remaining eight members of his family, which include four children and equal number of ladies, also received critical injuries.

As dozens of houses have so far been destroyed by continuous shelling, tens of thousands of tribals have reportedly vacated their houses and moving towards safer places.

Gunship Helicopters

Some reports say that some 15 gunship helicopters besides heavy artillery, are also taking part in the operation while two fighter jets are hovering over the region.

Some reports say that in some parts, forces were busy in fierce fighting with the fugitives or the Al-Qaeda suspects, as heavy casualties are feared from both the sides though no details could be ascertained.

Cordone Off

Reports say the security forces reinforced by the commandos who were dropped in the region with the help of Helicopters Thursday wee hours, have cordoned off the Kalooari Zarinoor, Wacha Dana, and Kalootai areas and started action against the suspects. Wana city, the reports say, was thrilling with the sounds of shells, firing.

Just two days after clashes in the South Waziristan Agency claiming around 40 lives, the anti-social elements targeted a Pak Army military camp, this time in the North Waziristan Agency killing at least two personnel and wounding three others.

The miscreants after launching the assault managed to flee from the scene and remained untraced till the publication of this report.

Terrorists

Reports say, some unknown attackers, believed to be terrorists hiding in the region, attacked an Chech-post at Dabar area of Shawal on Thursday evening with rocket launchers and other heavy ammunition.

The personnel present in the military post, returned fire on the assailants but they remained unhurt and escaped.

Re-Launch

Hours after the re-launch of operation against suspected terrorists in the tribal belt Thursday three civilians were killed and another 8 of a family injured, some of them seriously.

Reports reaching Islamabad said that a rocket-shell went into a house where family members of Sarki Khel Wazir tribe had got together for lunch.

The head of the family was reported dead on the spot while 3 women and five minors were injured.

The minors were said to be in serious condition while the women also are battling the injuries at a local hospital where they were rushed for treatment.

The security forces continued the operation as further contingents of the troops from the Frontier Corps and Commandos joined them.

The victims included a 13 year old boy Mohammed Din. The two injured were identified as Mohammed Khalil and Salahuddin.

Perspective

Earlier in the day, the operation was launched at around 10: 00 am to push off the terrorists said to be hiding in the tribal belt near Wana and adjoining areas.

Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps and Militia are working together in this operation, aimed at arresting the suspect terrorists.

Gunship helicopters are also being used in the re-launched operation.

People Warned

The local residents were given three hours to vacate the area before launching of the operation.

On Wednesday Director General Inter Services Public Relations, Major General Shaukat Sultan said that 15 troops had been killed and 22 injured during the Wana operation.

“Yes 15 troops have been killed during the operation. 24 terrorists have also been killed. 22 troops are injured”, he said. Sultan said that bodies of 2 terrorists were in custody of the forces.

ISPR Communiqué

An ISPR Press Release says: "Pakistan Thursday launched an operation to nab miscreants and foreign elements hiding in an area west of Wana in South Waziristan Agency. It is recalled that paramilitary had launched a routine search operation in the same area on 16th March and encountered unexpected heavy opposition.

The miscreants used the cover of civilian population and offered stiff resistance to the paramilitary. Constrained due to fear of collateral damage and loss of life to the innocent civilians, and accepting risk to their own life, the paramilitary troops did not use their fire power optimally.

Resultantly the FC took on the casualties to themselves which included 15 dead and 22 wounded. On the other hand, the miscreants suffered over 26 dead, which was confirmed through various sources. Most of them are believed to be foreigners. Two dead bodies of miscreants brought by the FC have also been identified as foreigners. In the process few vehicles of paramilitary were destroyed due to firing by the miscreants while the vehicles in which miscreants were trying to escape were also destroyed by the paramilitary troops.

The operation launched Thursday is in continuation of the same and encompasses the Government’s resolve to root out terrorism from its soil at all cost. The operation that commenced early morning 18 March 2004 comprises Paramilitary and regular Army troops are also there. It is duly supported by requisite fire power.

Having cordoned off the area early morning, an announcement was made that all those who wanted to leave the area could do so by 8.30 am. This deadline was later extended to 10 am. A number of civilians including women and children left the area and were shifted to safer places. Exchange of first between the security forces and miscreants commenced thereafter which continues intermittently. The operation is progressing smoothly."

Recap

On Tuesday several Pakistani troops along with twenty-four suspected terrorists were killed in an encounter.

Almost 70,000 troops are reported to have been deployed in the Tribal Areas for the first time since independence and five military operations have been taken so far.

Meanwhile, the United States has announced that it will name Pakistan as a major non-Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) ally. The announcement was made by US Secretary of State Colin Powell at a news conference after holding wide-ranging talks with Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri at Islamabad.

The US Secretary of State also said that America was committed to have long-term relations with Pakistan mentioning US $ 3 billion aid package and $ 1.5 billion debt relief for Pakistan.

Powell Praises

Powell praised Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism and recent raid by its forces in the Tribal Areas to hunt down suspected Al-Qaeda and Taliban elements.

Powell’s visit coincides with a Pakistani operation against al-Qaeda and Taliban supporters in the area bordering Afghanistan.

Security Tightened

Reports from Dera Ismail Khan say: After the death of 19 paramilitary troops, the local administration of South Waziristan Agency has tightened security checks on thousands of Afghan refugees residing in the area.

Some sources say, the decision was taken after local administration received information that some al-Qaeda people and foreign militants were attempting to cross the border and entering Afghanistan in the guise of Afghan refugees following the fresh actions by paramilitary forces against them.

Entrance, Exit Points Sealed

The authorities had seized all the possible entrance and exit points at Pakistan, Afghan border to make sure no one could move across the border without legal travelling documents, the sources said.

Besides, the authorities in Wana, the regional Headquarters of the Agency, had also started gathering the bio-data of Afghan refugees living in the area, the sources said.

Pakistan on Thursday launched what is termed as the final and decisive assaults against al-Qaeda militants supposed to be hidden in the Tribal Areas and those sheltering them.

More than half a million Afghan refugees are still residing in different cities of the country particularly in the NWFP. The ratio of the refugees in the Tribal Areas is even higher.

Scenario

Wana, the Agency Headquarters of the South Waziristan Agency presented a look of a battlefield where thousands of troops have resumed what could be termed as the biggest operation in the tribal history against the terrorists, as reports suggest, are hiding in the belt.

Close to 10000 troops were reportedly in action with the help of artillery as well as air support (gunship helicopters) to hunt the terrorists, till PT's going to the Web.

Reports reaching late on Thursday night said the Wana city, where a large number of the residents were migrating to the safer places, had been besieged by troops, curfew was imposed, and the communication links of Wana were literally cut off with the rest of the country.