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Pakistani raid on 'terrorists'

From CNN Islamabad Bureau Chief Ash-har Quraishi

A Pakistani official shows off a weapons cache seized during a similar operation in October.
A Pakistani official shows off a weapons cache seized during a similar operation in October.

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ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistani military forces have launched a major offensive against suspected "foreign terrorists" along the porous, lawless mountainous border with Afghanistan, a Pakistan military spokesman said.

The early morning operation Thursday took place west of Wana in the country's South Waziristan region -- deeply conservative tribal areas along the semi-autonomous border region -- and was based on intelligence information, Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan said.

Sultan called it a search operation and made no mention of shots being exchanged, casualties or arrests made. Details of the type or size of the operation were not provided.

It is believed the elements of former Afghan rulers the Taliban as well as al Qaeda may be trying to regroup or are hiding out in the region. Some also believe Osama bin Laden may also be in the area.

Thursday's operation is at least the second major raid in South Waziristan in recent months.

In a similar operation last October, Pakistani military forces killed eight suspected al Qaeda members and captured 18 others. Two soldiers also died.

Afghan and U.S. officials have regularly complained that Pakistan was not doing enough to prevent Taliban and al Qaeda militants from crossing into Pakistan from Afghanistan to seek shelter.

Pakistan has denied the claims and says it is doing all it can to seal what is largely a porous border in its tribal regions.

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf been a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led war on terror, much to the irritation of Islamic hardliners in Pakistan.


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