Paramilitary troops stormed a fortresslike compound with mortars and machine-gun fire Tuesday, killing 24 suspects in a fierce crackdown on Al Qaeda and Taliban fugitives in the rugged tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, the army spokesman said.
The operation–which left at least eight Pakistani troops dead and 15 wounded–was a stunning message delivered just one day after the military president promised to rid the territory of foreign terrorists. There have been several anti-terror operations in the region recently, but none so bloody.
Brig. Mahmood Shah, security chief in the regions, said the raid was “the most deadly” in memory in the tribal areas.
“There will be more such operations,” he said. “We will continue these operations until it is assured that our tribal areas have been purged of foreign terrorists.”
Army spokesman Gen. Shaukat Sultan said 24 suspects were killed in the raid, which began shortly after 5 a.m. just a few miles from the Afghan border.
The majority of those killed appeared to be tribesmen suspected of sheltering the terrorists, but Sultan said several of the dead also were foreigners presumed to be members of Al Qaeda.
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Compiled from RedEye news services and edited by Patrick Olsen (polsen@tribune.com) and Drew Sottardi (dsottardi@tribune.com)
