40 al Qaeda commanders held in Pakistan

Islamabad, Jul 26: Around 40 commanders of al Qaeda including Amjad and Rafi were arrested during the operations in Hangu and Bara, while 17 security personnel were killed, said Rehman Malik, Adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister.

The Daily Times quoted him as saying that suicide attacks had come to "zero level" in Punjab and Sindh, and that such attacks were down by 80 percent in the restive North West Frontier Province. He also said the operation in the Hangu District had been carried out successfully and desired objectives had been achieved with the minimum use of force.

Rehman said the government had employed the "three-Ds" (dialogue, development and deterrence) and "three-Ps" (prevent, protect and pursue) policy to contain terrorism in the country.

He said the government would prefer negotiations to sort out problems of the Federally Administered Tribal Area, but warned that stern actions would be taken if the peace deals between the NWFP government and the tribal militants failed.

ANI