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Pak forces attack militants in tribal region
MIRANSHAH, Pakistan, Oct 01 (Reuters): Pakistani forces attacked al Qaeda-linked
militants in mountains near the Afghan border for a third day Saturday, pounding their
hideouts with helicopter gunships, security officials said.
Pakistan has been trying to clear its lawless tribal areas on the Afghan border of militants
since early last year. Hundreds of militants and Pakistani soldiers have been killed in
clashes.
A military spokesman said five Pakistani troops had been killed since the latest fighting
began Thursday.
The militants were believed to have suffered casualties but the military had yet to get into
their areas for confirmation, said the spokesman, Major-General Shaukat Sultan.
"Fighting is still going on and we are facing quite a resistance from the other side," Sultan
said.
Many al Qaeda militants and their Taliban allies were believed to have slipped into
Pakistan after US-led forces ousted the Taliban government in Afghanistan in the wake of
the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
Travel industry wants govts to pick up security costs
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 01 (AP): Most members of the global travel industry want
governments to pay for the increased security costs, arising from terrorism threats,
according to a survey released Saturday by an industry organisation.
The survey by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) questioned 264 members of
the global travel and tourism industry between February and June about issues impacting
their businesses and livelihoods.
Among the issues are terrorism, bird flu, a common Asian currency, aging populations,
technology and whether the industry is ready to handle the large volume of traffic from
India and China.
Almost three-quarters of respondents felt that there had been an increase in terrorism and
violence across the globe, said a PATA statement.
"The survey took travel operators out of their comfort zones and asked them to think
about wider political implications," PATA director of Strategic Intelligence Center, John
Koldowski, was quoted as saying.
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