ISLAMABAD/WANA, 24 January 2008 — Pakistani troops hammered militant hide-outs and reinforced outposts yesterday in a tribal area where days of clashes have left more than 20 troops and 100 rebels dead, the army said.

There were no immediate details about casualties in the latest fighting in South Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan, the hide-out of a rebel commander accused of masterminding the killing of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.

In the neighboring tribal zone of North Waziristan one soldier was killed and two wounded when militants fired rockets at a paramilitary fort. “Troops are engaging miscreants and attacking their hide-outs,” chief military spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told AFP.

“We are reinforcing the (military) posts in South Waziristan because of the continued attacks from miscreants.” He said additional troops had been sent out to secure the posts, which had come under repeated attack from militants.

Troops exchanged fire again yesterday with militants at Ladha fort in South Waziristan, a day after clashes there left five soldiers and nearly 40 militants dead.

Militants last week briefly seized control of a paramilitary fort and were repulsed when they tried to capture another in the troubled district. The troubles have spread to North Waziristan in recent days.

Two soldiers were killed there on Tuesday in an attack on a security post at Razmak and militants attacked again in the early hours yesterday.

“One security forces personnel embraced martyrdom and two others were injured. Security forces retaliated with artillery and mortar fire,” the statement said.

Fighting between security forces and militants in the rugged tribal belt along the Afghan frontier has escalated since last month’s assassination of former premier Benazir.

Islamabad Calls for End

to Israeli Blockade in Gaza

Pakistan yesterday demanded an immediate end to Israeli blockade of Gaza and called for international help to resume supplies to the stricken territory.

Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Sadiq told Arab News yesterday, “We have taken a strong position on the issue.” He said Islamabad would raise the issue at the UN. He said the closure by Israel of the Gaza crossing points and suspension of humanitarian assistance, fuel and electricity supplies, and other essential medical and relief items was not acceptable. “Nothing can justify this kind of behavior and unlawful action by Israel,” he said.

A prolonged Israeli blockade of Gaza was tightened six days ago to a full-scale lockdown, with Israel halting all fuel shipments and even the entry of humanitarian aid, with the aim of stopping rocket fire from the territory.

“Pakistan condemns the recent Israeli acts of aggression against the people of Gaza,” Sadiq said.

“We call upon the international community to ensure an urgent and complete lifting of Israeli blockade on Gaza and the resumption of fuel, food and other humanitarian supplies to the suffering Palestinian people,” he said.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians poured into Egypt yesterday to stock up on goods after fighters blew up parts of the border with the Gaza Strip.

“The increased Israeli hostilities have exacerbated the humanitarian suffering and economic hardship of the Palestinian people,” Sadiq said.