posted March 18, 2004 01:36 PM              

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani forces have surrounded what may be a "high-value" al Qaeda target in Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan, President Pervez Musharraf told CNN.

"We feel that there may be a high-value target," Musharraf told CNN. "I can't say who."

The ferociousness of their resistance indicates that the al Qaeda fighters are protecting someone particularly significant, he said.

The military asked locals to leave and is flying helicopters overhead, "pounding" the area with artillery, he said.

U.S. and Pakistani officials have said they believe al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden probably is in Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan.

Word of the standoff comes after Pakistan announced it has launched a fresh offensive against suspected militants near the Afghan border.

Hundreds of Pakistani troops backed by heavy artillery and helicopter gunships raided homes in the nation's tribal region of South Waziristan, two days after a fierce assault in the same area left dozens dead.

On Tuesday, at least 39 people were killed in a raid on suspected Taliban and al Qaeda militants in a fortress-like compound in Kaloosha, close to the border.

Fifteen soldiers died, while Pakistani forces killed 24 suspects, most of them foreign fighters, military officials said.

Intelligence officers are also questioning 18 people captured during the raids.

In retaliation, angry tribesmen torched more than a dozen military vehicles -- some loaded with ammunition -- on Tuesday and Wednesday.

'Finish the terrorists'
Pakistani Information Minister Shiekh Rashid Ahmed told CNN on Thursday that "for the first time in the history, Pakistani forces have entered there to finish the terrorists."

"We are committed against terrorism and we have to pay the price," he said.

Pakistan forces have launched a number of sweeps for "suspected foreign terrorists" along the border after Afghan and U.S. officials complained they were escaping to sanctuaries in Pakistan.

About 70,000 Pakistan troops are in the tribal regions and the recent offensive coincides with a major U.S. military operation on the other side of the border in Afghanistan to capture terror suspects.

Though a spring offensive across southern and eastern Afghanistan, called Operation "Mountain Storm", is yet to be officially launched, U.S. military operations there have been stepped up.

Powell: Pakistan a key ally
Earlier Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell met with Musharraf in Islamabad and said Washington will designate Pakistan a major, non-NATO ally, making it easier for the country to buy advanced U.S. weapons.

His announcement came despite U.S. concern about the recent nuclear proliferation row involving the founder of Pakistan's nuclear program.

Earlier this year, Abdul Qadeer Khan admitted he gave nuclear weapons technology to other countries.

But Musharraf has been a steadfast ally of the United Sates in the war against terror, despite considerable pressure from Pakistan's mostly Muslim population.

Powell told CNN the United States is hoping for further assistance. On Thursday Pakistani forces launched a fresh offensive against suspected al Qaeda and Taliban fighters near the Afghan border.

Find this article at: http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/03/18/pakistan.alqaeda/index.html

posted March 18, 2004 10:54 PM              

http://www.commondreams.org/

posted March 19, 2004 04:42 AM            

As for Osama, I have heard from "inside" information that we already have him. I do not know for how long, but the "rumour" is that he is dead - of kidney failure - and that he will be "rolled out" at a key point later in the elections. There was talk of the possibility of presenting him as being killed in a battle or something ... his official story had not been fully scripted yet. The bin Laden family is rumoured to be being very well compensated for their cooperation.

Time will certainly tell if this information is any good. Interesting scenario at the very least.

posted March 19, 2004 08:43 AM              

Interesting. Guess we shall see in the fall if it's true. Thanks for that!

posted March 19, 2004 08:43 AM              

Interesting. Guess we shall see in the fall if it's true. Thanks for that!