WASHINGTON (AFP) - Pakistan has rejected reports it had withdrawn troops from a tribal area near the border with Afghanistan (news - web sites) suspected to be a hideout for Al-Qaeda leaders, the US State Department said.
"Pakistani officials, both publicly and privately to us, have made clear that there has been no withdrawal from Waziristan and that they remain fully committed to continuing the campaign against Al-Qaeda and Al-Qaeda supporters," department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters on Monday.
According to a Pakistani military spokesman at the weekend, soldiers have been withdrawn from the streets of the main town in the troubled South Waziristan district after months of bloody offensives against Al-Qaeda-linked militants.
"Our understanding of the situation with regard to the forces in Waziristan is it's not a change of attitude or inclination or activity on the part of the Pakistanis," Boucher said.
more:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1535&ncid=1276&e=1&u=/afp/20041130/wl_sthasia_afp/us_attacks_pakistan_qaedaNotice OBL isn't mentioned...just Al-Qaeda. OBL is gone, no need to search for him anymore. :eyes:
Edited to add previous articles:
Pakistan pulls troops from Afghan border area
Bin Laden not hiding there, general says
Saturday, November 27, 2004 Posted: 10:12 PM EST (0312 GMT)
http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/11/27/pakistan.al.qaeda/index.htmlBin Laden Not Hiding on Pakistan Border -Army
Thu Nov 25,10:54
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=574&ncid=574&e=11&u=/nm/20041125/wl_nm/security_pakistan_dc_2Search for Osama bin Laden continues: top US general
Mon Nov 22, 8:40 AM ET
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1521&e=13&u=/afp/20041122/pl_afp/afghanistan_us_attacks_041122134013