ISLAMABAD, March 16 Kyodo Ten ra...

ISLAMABAD, March 16 Kyodo

Ten race were killed in a Pakistani military operation launched Tuesday in the southward Waziristan tribal area to capture al-Qaida and Taliban fugitives, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.

Maj. Gen Shaukat Sultan told reporters that the army has been sent to reinforce paramilitary numbers carrying out the operation in an area terminate to the Afghan border where tribesmen were believed to have provided shelter to a number of foreign nationals.

Tribesmen reached by means of telephone said the operation to search down the foreign fugitives was simultaneously launched in three villages of Azamwarsak, about 15 kilometers southerly of Wana, capital of southward Waziristan.

Sultan said the suspected terrorists killed Tuesday included single in kind foreigner.

''The operation would continue until the objectives are achieved,'' he said.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf in succession Monday told a meeting of tribal more ancients and leaders that nearly 500 foreign terrorists are hiding in the tribal area and sought their help in capturing them.

The Pakistan army carried without an operation in February against Taliban and al-Qaida fugitives in southern Waziristan that led to 20 arrests by means of Pakistani troops.

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