Friday October 19 12:25 PM ET

U.S. Tells Pakistan of Special Forces

By KATHY GANNON, Associated Press Writer

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) - Washington has told Pakistan that U.S. special forces will be conducting ``hit-and-run'' operations in Taliban-ruled areas of Afghanistan to flush out Osama bin Laden, members of his al-Qaida network and Taliban leaders, a Pakistan military official said Friday.

The U.S. special forces were dropped into Taliban territory on Thursday, the official said on condition of anonymity.

Other U.S. forces have been in opposition northern alliance territory for more than one week, Pakistan was also told.

Americans there have been helping northern alliance fighters on the front lines with the Taliban, he said. It wasn't clear what type of assistance the U.S. special forces were providing, but the military official said ``they are on the northern front lines, north of Kabul.''

In the estimated 90 percent of Afghanistan ruled by the Taliban, U.S. special forces will be conducting clandestine, hit-and-run operations, Pakistan has been told.

``Their basic purpose will not be to seize anything, but to conduct hit-and-run operations, pinpoint installations, smoke out terrorists,'' said the Pakistan military source.

-- Anonymous, October 19, 2001