al-Qaeda-linked militants trap Pak commandoes

Reports from the Waziristan agency said the fighting died down yesterday mainly due to the fact that the authorities had started negotiations with the militants through the local tribal elders.

While the details of the army operation, which continued into its fourth day today, were sketchy due to restrictions imposed by Pakistan authorities on media, local tribesmen, who got out of Mandata and Shakai areas, told the 'News' daily that several Army commandos were trapped in the area and efforts were on to rescue them.

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They said elders from local tribes have been approached to negotiate with militants for safe return of the trapped personnel. However, there was no official reaction to the report so far.

Pakistan's Defence spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said last night there was no sympathy for foreign terrorists and all out efforts were being made to flush them out from the country.