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July 19, 2008 2:10:25 AM CDT

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US Steps Up Secret Pakistan Air Strikes

Posted Mar 27, 08 6:09 AM CDT in Politics,  World 

(Newser) – The US is stepping up air strikes on suspected al-Qaeda strongholds in Pakistan, the Washington Post reports. The Predator bombings—which neither the US or Pakistan will officially confirm—aim to rattle terror leaders out of hiding before the country's new leaders are expected to demand the US scale back its operations. The "shake the tree" strategy has reportedly killed 45 foreign fighters.

Pakistan's border areas are thought to be home to numerous al-Qaeda members who fled Afghanistan. President Pervez Musharraf has allowed the US a fairly free hand in striking at non-Pakistani militants, but his power is fading and the new government, keen to assert sovereignty, isn't likely to back continued bombings. Senior coalition partner and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told US diplomats it was unacceptable to use the country as a "killing field."

Sources Washington Post, Guardian (UK)

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Deputy al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri praises Abu Laith al-Libi, an al-Qaeda commander believed to have been killed by a missile from a US Predator drone that struck his safehouse in Pakistan,   (AP Photo/IntelCenter)
A Pakistani protester stands over the US flag bin front of a a banner which reads 'Negroponte and Boucher go back,'to condemn their visit in Pakistan, on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 in Lahore, Pakistan.   (AP Photo)
A Predator unmanned aerial vehicle prepares to land. The US has reportedly stepped up Predator strikes on militants in Pakistan's lawless border areas.   (AP Photo)
Pakistani army troops stand beside seized weapons from pro-Taliban militants.   (Getty Images (by Event) Individuals)
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Pakistan  • al-Qaeda  • Pervez Musharraf  • Nawaz Sharif  • Pakistan militants  • airstrike  • Islamic extremists  • Waziristan  • Predator


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