Air strike 'flattens Taleban hide-out'

Published on Saturday 18 July 2009 19:47

GOVERNMENT warplanes flattened a suspected Taleban hide-out in the volatile north-west early yesterday, killing nine associates of Pakistani Taleban leader Baitullah Mehsud, intelligence officials said.

The military has targeted Mehsud and his militant network in recent months in the tribal regions along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. The Taleban leader is accused of orchestrating the killing of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007 and launching a string of suicide attacks across the country in recent months that have killed more than 100 people.

Early yesterday, jets destroyed hide-outs of Mehsud's deputy Hakim Ullah in the Orakzai region, part of Pakistan's lawless tribal belt. It was unclear whether Ullah was present at the time, said two intelligence officials, who sought anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to media.

The airstrikes came a day after suspected US missiles killed at least five alleged militants in a nearby tribal region. The attack shows Washington's unwillingness to abandon the tactic even as Pakistani officials say it could hamper their army offensives in the north-west.

The drone attack hit a house in Gariwam village in North Waziristan, two intelligence officials said. Local government official Anayat Ullah also confirmed a missile hit the village, while resident Ahmad Raza said he heard Taleban in the area saying five of their comrades were dead.

Over the past year, the US has launched dozens of missile strikes in north-west Pakistan. The North and South Waziristan regions of the country's semi-autonomous tribal belt have been frequent targets, because top Taleban and al-Qaeda leaders are believed to be hiding there.

Some US officials have defended the tactic, saying it has killed several top al-Qaeda fighters. The US is keen on ridding Pakistan of safe havens for militants involved in attacks on Nato forces in Afghanistan.

Though many analysts suspect the two countries have a secret deal allowing the drone-fired missiles, Pakistan formally protests the assaults, saying they violate its sovereignty and stir anger among tribes.

Pakistan is wrapping up a campaign against Taleban militants in the Swat valley, north-west of Islamabad, launched over two months ago after militant advances prompted concerns over the country's safety and that of its nuclear weapons.

Militants have retaliated with attacks on Pakistani security forces and on trucks carrying Nato food and fuel to Afghanistan.