Qaeda militants on the run: Pak

Pakistan said it has dismantled the Al Qaeda militant network in the tribal areas of Waziristan following the recent offensive by the Pakist...

Pakistan said it has dismantled the Al Qaeda militant network in the tribal areas of Waziristan following the recent offensive by the Pakistan Army, which was called off after six days of intensive fighting, even as a fleeing Chechen militant was gunned down by the security forces today.

‘‘We are in complete in control of the Shekai Valley in south Waziristan and the troops will pursue the militants till they are eliminated,’’ Pakistan Defence spokesman Maj. Gen. Shoukat Sultan said here.

He said the troops have destroyed several hideouts on the ground during aerial operations from June 9 to 13 and killed many militants and the rest were on the run. They have been scattered and we will engage them wherever they are hiding in Waziristan tribal belt, he added. He said the six-day long military operations were confined to Shekai Valley in Waziristan where the militants had several hideouts and all of them have been destroyed. He, however, refused to reveal the extent of damage suffered by the militants or the number of fugitives killed in the operation.

Asked about his statement yesterday that the crackdown has been called off, Sultan said the operations relating to the identified hideouts in Shekai Valley were over as they have been destroyed. The terrorists have been flushed out of the area or scattered, he said. — (PTI)