US Troops Attacking Al Qaeda in Pakistan: WP

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, April 26, 2002

US Troops Attacking Al Qaeda in Pakistan: WP

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Covert US military units have been conducting reconnaissance operations in Pakistan in recent weeks and participated in attacks on suspected al Qaeda hide-outs there, the Washington Post (WP) reported on Thursday.

American forces are active not only in Paktia and Paktika provinces in Afghanistan, but also in adjacent tribal areas in Pakistan where the government in Islamabad has only limited authority, the report quoted U.S. military officials as saying.

The Pakistani government is nervous about the U.S. operations on its territory, especially with the approach of a referendum Tuesday on extending by five years the rule of President Pervez Musharraf, according to the officials.

Although the expansion of the war into Pakistan is a recognition by the U.S. military that al Qaeda is operating on both sides of the border, it risks increasing political turmoil in Pakistan, where Musharraf's support for the war has sparked considerable opposition from Islamic political parties.

Pakistan has asked the United States to be as quiet as possible about U.S. operations inside the country, which also involve the presence of American warplanes, Special Operations troops and regular forces at four Pakistani bases.

U.S. military officials said their goal is to kill or capture as many al Qaeda members as possible, and they believe they are succeeding, albeit slowly, in dozens of small encounters.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Pakistan's military government said on Wednesday he had no knowledge of U.S. military operations inside Pakistan.

"I think there's some confusion," Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi said. "What I'd heard earlier is that the only thing that may be happening is a communication link. I don't think any Special Forces or Delta Force commandos are operating inside Pakistan."

Questions?Comments? Click here

Al Qaeda Claims Responsibility for Sept. 11 Attacks

U.S. Confirms Capture of Senior Al Qaeda Leader

Senior al Qaeda Leader in US Custody: Report

Protests Prompt Retailer to Pull T-shirts Mocking Chinese-Americans ( 35 Messages)

Ins and Outs of a Young American's Roguery on Bus in China ( 142 Messages)

FM Spokeswoman: US Has Clarified its Stance on Taiwan Issue ( 21 Messages)

China's Economy to Grow Above Six Percent ( 29 Messages)

China Expresses Strong Dissatisfaction over Japanese PM's Shrine Visit ( 6 Messages)