Pakistani forces arrested 20 terror suspects, including some foreigners, during a major operation in the tribal regions along the Afghan border, where al-Qaida and Taliban leaders are believed to be hiding, military spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said.

Meanwhile, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement, issued in Islamabad Tuesday afternoon, said "the search operation, which commenced in the morning upon a tip about suspected presence of foreign terrorists in an area west of Wana in South Waziristan Agency, has successfully concluded." However, certain post operation activities are still in progress, it said.

It said the search operation has confirmed the presence of foreign elements in the target area because there were a few foreigners among those arrested during the operation. In addition, certain documents including passports of foreigners were seized there, it added.

Weapons, ammunition and audio cassettes have also been recovered during the search operation, the statement said, adding "there are no causalities on either side nor there has been any collateral damage."

The political agent of the South Waziristan Agency, Maliks, and elders were present during the very well coordinated operation and suspected locals held during operation were dealt through them. Some of the suspected locals apprehended during the operation were later released after necessary interaction with Maliks and elders, the statement said.

A spokesman of the ISPR has reiterated earlier that such search operations are routine and part of the ongoing war on terror and are conducted whenever required.

The operation was launched early morning after the end of Oct. 20 deadline for these militants to surrender.

Locals in Wana, the center of South Waziristan, said they saw 14 helicopters landed in the military basis at the Zair Noor military colony.

A large number of army men and paramilitary scouts had been busy preparing for the operation for a few days.

US forces in Afghanistan have said they are stepping up the hunt for Osama bin Laden, who is believed to be in the border area.

Pakistani and US officials have denied reports that Osama bin Laden has been spotted and said that the operation is not targeting him.

Islamabad has deployed some 70,000 troops along the porous Afghan border to hunt members of al-Qaida and the former Taliban who are believed to be hiding in the area.

Pakistan has been a key ally of the United States since it launched its war on terror after devastating attacks on New York and Washington in September 2001.

About 500 suspects have been detained, and many sent for interrogation by the US military at Guantanamo Bay.

(Xinhua News Agency February 25, 2004)