44 Taliban killed in military operation in Pak’s Bajaur Agency, American Ambassador summoned

by Sanjay Jha | November 20, 2008 at 11:55 pm

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At least 24 Taliban fighters, including 11 foreigners and one local commander, were killed in the military operation in the Bajaur Agency in the restive North Western part of Pakistan bordering Afghanistan yesterday, as warplanes pounded Taliban positions in Swat killing 20 fighters using a school building in Matta area.

At least 24 Taliban fighters – including 11 foreigners and one local commander – were killed in the military operation in Bajaur on Thursday as warplanes pounded Taliban positions in Swat, killing 20 fighters using a school building in Matta area, according to official sources, local residents and AFP.

Also, a private TV channel reported on Thursday that security forces have completed the deployment of Frontier Corps (FC) contingents in Mohmand, and a full-scale military operation in the agency is likely after the federal government’s approval.

The foreign fighters killed in Bajaur were suspected to be Uzbek nationals, FC sources told Daily Times. They said the Taliban casualties came when security forces targeted fighters in the Darbari, Saparai, Gatki, Bagori and Zorbandar areas of Mamoond and Nawagai tehsils of Bajaur. “We making significant progress against the militants who are on the run,” said the FC sources – with troops headed towards Nawagai. The movement towards Nawagai and Mamoond comes after troops gained control of Loyesam. “Taliban strongholds have been destroyed,” an ISPR spokesman said in a press release in Rawalpindi, but went on to mention that “a few pockets of resistance remained”. The spokesman also said that ‘Operation Sher Dil’ was separate from ISAF’s ‘Operation Lionheart’ in Afghanistan.

Showing their anger Pakistan government summoned American Ambassador over Bannu attack. Pakistani officials demanded immediate halt to drone strikes and said that such attacks violated Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The ambassador, who was called to the Foreign Office for the third time in a few months, said she would convey Islamabad’s concerns to Washington.

Talking to a delegation of the German media, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also denounced the Bannu strike and said that attacks from across the border were counter-productive and harmed the government’s efforts to stamp out militancy and extremism.

Referring to Aafia Siddiqui’s case, the FO spokesman said that after comments of a US court about her health condition she should be immediately repatriated to Pakistan.

“Her return to Pakistan will greatly facilitate her speedy rehabilitation. We are continuing our efforts to seek Dr Aafia’s early return to Pakistan.”