Islamabad: Hundreds of Pakistani troops, backed by helicopter gunships and artillery, today (Feb 24, 2004) launched an operation to track down al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters in the rugged tribal terrain in South Waziristan region bordering Afghanistan and arrested about 20 people, including a few foreigners.

"In an early morning operation today we have arrested 15 to 20 people," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad said, adding that as far as Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar were concerned, "we do not have any information".

Among the arrested, he said, were a few foreigners, but "we do not know which country they belong to or who they are. We are investigating and when we will get the results we will get back to the media."

The military issued a statement saying that troops have recovered weapons, ammunition and audio cassettes during the search operation.

Certain documents, including passports, have also been recovered from houses during the operation, confirming presence of foreigners there, it said.

Pakistan's Defence Spokesman Major General Shoukat Sultan told reporters that security forces conducted search operations in Zarakai village in Azam Warsik area.

The operation in the region, believed to be a sanctuary of Taliban and al-Qaeda fugitives who fled Afghanistan after the US-led operation against them two years ago, was launched after the militants ignored the February 20 deadline to surrender and the Government received tip-off about their presence.

Local television networks reported that troops conducted house-to-house searches during the operation.

Denying the involvement of American troops, Sultan said the operation was being conducted by Pakistani troops alone.

Asked whether US and Afghan troops were mobilised on the Afghan side, he said he has no information on that.

Rashid also said no foreign troops are involved in the operation. "We are operating ourselves. We are competent enough to handle these sorts of crises. Our armed forces are capable of handling this."