The Hindu : Civilian deaths embarrass Musharraf Government

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 01, 2004

International

International

Civilian deaths embarrass Musharraf Government

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, FEB. 29. Embarrassed over the death of 11 persons in the tribal area bordering Afghanistan, the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, has ordered a high level inquiry into it.

Six persons were also wounded on Saturday morning when troops, engaged in an operation to flush out Al-Qaeda fugitives, opened fire on passenger pickups in the South Waziristan tribal region mistaking them for militants.

According to reports in the local media, the incident followed a late night mortar attack by suspected militants from a pick up van on an army brigade camp at Zeray Noor.

It appears the paramilitary forces were still in the process of searching the militants when the incident took place.

There is little doubt that the incident is a major setback for Pakistani forces, which are already facing a hostile population in the tribal areas.

Tribal areas enjoy a high degree of autonomy and the writ of the state normally does not run there.

Thanks to the situation arising out of the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan was forced to move military and paramilitary forces there to search for the Al-Qaeda suspects.

It is after nearly 100 years that the forces have gone there.

The Government has been trying its best to sell the idea that the operations are in the national interests.

The army has even launched several socio-welfare projects to emphasise the point that it has nothing against the local population.

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