Wana, Pakistan — Pakistani troops killed 24 suspects in a fierce crackdown Tuesday on al-Qaeda and Taliban fugitives in the rugged tribal regions bordering Afghanistan, an army spokesman said. At least eight Pakistani soldiers were killed and 15 wounded.
The operation unfolded near Wana, in Pakistan's South Waziristan region, just a few miles from the Afghan border, said army spokesman Gen. Shaukat Sultan.
“We believe that 24 suspected terrorists have been killed,” he said.
Most of those killed were apparently thought to be Pakistani tribesmen suspected of sheltering the terrorists, but Gen. Sultan said that several of the dead also were believed to be foreigners presumed to be members of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terrorist group.
