Pakistan's army lifted a troop cordon from around two tribal villages near the Afghan border after a deadly 12-day siege of Al-Qaeda fighters and their tribal supporters. Photo by AFP
Pakistan's army has lifted a troop cordon from around two tribal villages near the Afghan border after a deadly 12-day siege of Al-Qaeda fighters and their tribal supporters. However thousands of army and paramilitary troops remain in the wild semi-autonomous region as part of Pakistan's intensified spring offensive against Al-Qaeda and Taliban fugitives. Despite the deployment of at least 7,500 troops to pound the hideouts of up to 500 diehard Al-Qaeda fighters and their tribal allies, only 60 militants were killed and 163 arrested, of whom 60 were released.