Thousands of Pakistani troops backed by helicopter have succeeded in bringing all inaccessible areas of South Waziristan tribal area under its control in the ongoing operation against Al-Qaeda linked terrorists, Pakistan's Peshawar Corps Commander Lt. General .Safdar Hussain said.

Though armed forces have established its influence in the SouthWaziristan, war on terror would continue till elimination of terror, local English-language newspaper The Nation Saturday quoted the commander as saying.

Safdar Hussain said that foreigner and local militants are still operating in various parts of the tribal belt, adding that armed forces are determined to weed out such elements.

Four brigades of around 7,000 troops and six gunship helicopters are taking part in the operation, said the Corps commander.

He said that they have launched a massive operation in three Mehsud-dominated areas since November 8 and during the operation they succeeded in establishing its influence over most of these areas.

Pointing out to the hideouts and presence of alleged terroristsin Daila and Khonkhela area, Safdar Hussain said the forces early Friday embarked on a drive to get control over these areas.

There is no way out for the terrorists as we have sealed all the routes and roads, he said and hoped early capturing of terrorists and militants in Khonkhela and Daila. The Corps commander said such achievements would ensure return of peace and stability in the region.

At South Waziristan's Sarwaiki area, the forces thoroughly searched the house of Abdullah Mehsud, who is wanted by the government for kidnapping two Chinese engineers early in October. "We seized his horse and weapons from his house," Lt. General Hussain said, adding he did not know where Abdullah was.

About casualties in this operation, Hussain said three soldiershave been killed and 22 others wounded while six bodies of allegedterrorists have been

taken into army custody. One militant along with three others was also arrested, he said.

He also said soldiers had recovered "chits" from arrested militants regarding their contacts with several explosions in southern port city of Karachi. "It shows that terrorism is not only confined to South Waziristan Agency, but there is a link between Waziristan and Karachi," he said.

Source: Xinhua