Author:
Publication: BBC News
Date: May 11, 2002
URL: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/south_asia/newsid_1981000/1981640.stm
A rocket has been fired at a vocational
school in Pakistan where US special forces were believed to be staying
as they continue their search for al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters, a local
official said.
The rocket missed its target and
no-one was hurt, but it was the second time in two weeks that the building
in the semi-autonomous tribal region near the Afghan border has come under
rocket attack.
Seven American soldiers have been
sleeping at the school in Miranshah in North Waziristan as they carry out
their mission alongside Pakistani forces.
The BBC's correspondent in Islamabad,
Susannah Price, says Pakistani tribesman have vowed to continue their campaign
against American military personnel who enter the border areas.
Timed device
The attack took place at 2225 (1625
GMT) on Friday and a second rocket, with a timing device set to go off
at 0225 on Saturday, was found, the local official said.
The US personnel had earlier watched
a traditional Katthak dance on the lawn of a nearby fort.
The first rocket hit a sports complex
about 200 metres from the school and the second device was defused by security
forces.
The rocket used in the attack on
the building on 1 May also missed its target and caused no casualties.
US-led coalition forces are combing
the area along the Pakistan- Afghanistan border in the hunt for al-Qaeda
and Taleban members who might have slipped across the border.
Pakistan says a small number of
US troops are helping its forces in "communications and intelligence gathering"
in the tribal areas.
But their arrival in an area usually
off limits even to the Pakistani army has provoked anger amongst the local
tribesmen.
Vow to fight
Tribal elders and religious leaders
say a joint team of Pakistani and American troops raided a madrasa, or
religious school, last month - a move which sparked fury.
During a meeting armed volunteers
from various tribes said they would fight anyone who attempted to enter
their religious schools.
Until recently Pakistan's authorities
had denied that US troops were operating in the region.
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf
said co- operation with the Americans was restricted to fighting on the
other side of the border and some US personnel in Pakistan involved in
communications.
This is an extremely sensitive subject
for President Musharraf. He offered the American- led coalition full co-operation
following the events of 11 September.
But even allowing the Americans
to use Pakistani air bases to launch search-and- rescue operations led
to demonstrations.
