Security
Pakistan: Clinton visit clouded by fresh violence
Islamabad, 30 October (AKI) - United States secretary of state Hillary Clinton ended her visit to Pakistan on Friday after meeting tribal leaders in the troubled northwest of the country. During her three-day visit Clinton sought to strengthen ties between the US and Pakistan and tried to counter rising anti-US sentiment amid a wave of fresh violence.
Clinton's visit was overshadowed by a deadly bomb attack in the city of Peshawar. More than 100 people died when a car bomb exploded in a crowded market on Wednesday.
But Clinton strongly supported government efforts to counter recent terrorism.
"Of course we are very encouraged to see what the government is doing. At the same time, it is just a fact that Al-Qaeda had sought refuge in Pakistan after the US and our allies went after them because of the attack on 9/11," she said.
"And we want to encourage everyone, not just the Pakistan government or the military but Pakistani citizens to realise the connection between Al-Qaeda and these Taliban extremists who are threatening Pakistan. They are part of a syndicate of terror."
Meanwhile, Pakistani forces conducting an offensive inside the militant stronghold of South Waziristan are closing in on a major Taliban base and have killed 14 insurgents over the last 24 hours, the army said on Friday.
According to the Pakistani daily, Dawn, a statement released by the army said its soldiers now controlled the hills above the village of Sararogha, a reputed base where Taliban leaders have long operated openly.
The army said 14 militants had been killed, along with two Pakistani soldiers.
In Shakai, security forces have secured the Asman Manza area, and they are expanding their perimeter of security.
Security forces said they had located a militant training camp during a search operation on the same axis. Weapons and ammunitions were also recovered.
A total of 289 militants and 34 government soldiers have been killed in the offensive, according to figures released by the military. Six more militants have been arrested.
Access to South Waziristan is heavily restricted, so independently verifying death tolls from fighting is all but impossible.
On Thursday, during a journalists’ visit to South Waziristan, the army displayed a German passport apparently belonging to a suspect in the 9/11 attacks.
They also showed the media another passport, from Spain, bearing the name of a woman who Spanish media have reported is married to an alleged Al-Qaeda member from Morocco suspected of involvement in both the 9/11 attacks and the 2004 Madrid train bombings.
The Pakistani military launched a ground offensive earlier this month in the rugged, tribal region of South Waziristan, where the Pakistani Taliban are reportedly based and are believed to be sheltering Al-Qaeda leaders.
Clinton's visit was overshadowed by a deadly bomb attack in the city of Peshawar. More than 100 people died when a car bomb exploded in a crowded market on Wednesday.
But Clinton strongly supported government efforts to counter recent terrorism.
"Of course we are very encouraged to see what the government is doing. At the same time, it is just a fact that Al-Qaeda had sought refuge in Pakistan after the US and our allies went after them because of the attack on 9/11," she said.
"And we want to encourage everyone, not just the Pakistan government or the military but Pakistani citizens to realise the connection between Al-Qaeda and these Taliban extremists who are threatening Pakistan. They are part of a syndicate of terror."
Meanwhile, Pakistani forces conducting an offensive inside the militant stronghold of South Waziristan are closing in on a major Taliban base and have killed 14 insurgents over the last 24 hours, the army said on Friday.
According to the Pakistani daily, Dawn, a statement released by the army said its soldiers now controlled the hills above the village of Sararogha, a reputed base where Taliban leaders have long operated openly.
The army said 14 militants had been killed, along with two Pakistani soldiers.
In Shakai, security forces have secured the Asman Manza area, and they are expanding their perimeter of security.
Security forces said they had located a militant training camp during a search operation on the same axis. Weapons and ammunitions were also recovered.
A total of 289 militants and 34 government soldiers have been killed in the offensive, according to figures released by the military. Six more militants have been arrested.
Access to South Waziristan is heavily restricted, so independently verifying death tolls from fighting is all but impossible.
On Thursday, during a journalists’ visit to South Waziristan, the army displayed a German passport apparently belonging to a suspect in the 9/11 attacks.
They also showed the media another passport, from Spain, bearing the name of a woman who Spanish media have reported is married to an alleged Al-Qaeda member from Morocco suspected of involvement in both the 9/11 attacks and the 2004 Madrid train bombings.
The Pakistani military launched a ground offensive earlier this month in the rugged, tribal region of South Waziristan, where the Pakistani Taliban are reportedly based and are believed to be sheltering Al-Qaeda leaders.
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