Islamabad (AsiaNews) – The country's army continues to surround Al Qaeda-linked militant bases in the northwest province of Waziristan. At the bases it is said that over 300 militants have taken up arms in a battle to the death to protect top ranking officials of the Islamic terrorist network stationed there.    

Today official Pakistani sources have said a hundred or so of the militants were captured and had been brought in for questioning. The same sources revealed that a dozen top American officials are taking part in the military operation. 

This morning Pakistani army spokesman, Shawkat Sultan, denied that "based on preliminary questioning of captured militants" there were two of the world's most wanted Al Qaeda heads at the surrounded bases. This is same opinion of a Taliban spokesman who said that Osama Bin Laden and his right hand man, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, "are living in a safe place in Afghanistan."

The fact that Pakistani operation is being waged in concurrence with another American strike (along the Afghan border where, like in the surrounded Pakistani area, Pashtun tribals live)should make for a cooperative man hunt. Afghan foreign ministry spokesman, Omar Samad, said he hopes "top leaders won't be able to escape this time like the other times." He added that "all border crossings are under tight control."  

Today in the Pashtun region of Pakistan (Dirat Ismail Khan) near the besieged bases, students rallied in protest of the Pakinstani military strikes "conducted as a favor to the United States". The students said they were willing "to fight against the Pakistani army in support of their (Islamic) brothers" and that it was "a sin against Islam to attack Muslim inhabited areas".     

As the American presidential elections draw near the capture of a top Al Qaeda leader is seen as imperative to win support for the Bush administration. President Musharaf's alliance with Washington against terrorism risks stirring up internal strife against the Pakistan's government.   (PB)

• Pakistan
• terrorism
• islamic
• fundamentalism
• muslims
• al
• qaeda