ISLAMABAD, 10 May 2004 — US forces in the border area of Afghanistan intruded into Pakistani territory for the third time this week late Friday night. The US troops crossed over into the Lawara Mandi area of North Waziristan Agency at around 7 p.m. on Friday.
Unlike the previous two incursions, the US troops did not search shops in the bazaar. The troops were, however, supported by Apache helicopters and two planes which caused consternation among local people.
The Director General of Intelligence Service Public Relations, Maj. Gen. Shaukat Sultan, denied Saturday reports of the US intrusion. He said three US army vehicles approached the Frontier Corps post at Lawara Mandi in South Waziristan.
The US troops told the Pakistani authorities that unidentified insurgents had attacked them and they were conducting a search. They asked the Pakistani officials whether insurgents were in the area.
When assured by the Pakistanis that there were no insurgents in the area, the US troops left. Gen. Sultan said the incident was not an intrusion. He said as the post was in Pakistan’s jurisdiction, US troops had to pass it in order to ascertain the presence of insurgents.
According to a recent article in the Washington Post, the United States regards Pakistan’s aborted military mission in South Waziristan to hunt for Al-Qaeda elements as “a job half done,” and wants operations to be renewed.
Criticizing Pakistan’s conciliatory approach, Washington said there were foreign fighters in those tribal areas who will have to be killed or captured. The US ambassador in Kabul made similar critical remarks.
