Uzbekistan has sought information about its citizens arrested during operation by Pakistani military against the al-Qaeda suspects in the tribal region, bordering Afghanistan. “We have received a communication from the Uzbek embassy in Islamabad and Pakistani embassy in Uzbekistan, to provide the details of the people of Uzbek origin arrested during the operation,” Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan said. Pakistan military says that around 167 militants, including Uzbek nationals have been arrested in the last month major military operation in South Waziristan tribal region against foreign militants and those sheltering them. “We are considering the proposal and have not yet responded to request by Uzbekistan,” Khan told reporters in Islamabad. Pakistan government had also said that leader of Uzbekistan Islamic group Tahir Yuldesh was injured during the Waziristan operation. There was no independent confirmation of the claim. A two-week army offensive against al-Qaeda that ended on Sunday left around 100 dead, according to the military. One ambush of an army convoy on 22 March near Saroki area left 19 soldiers dead, eight of whom were shot after being taken hostage. The hunt for their killers has also been stepped up with thousands of armed Mahsud tribesmen searching homes and asking for information. Meanwhile, the Pakistani army has again stepped up its campaign to drive out al-Qaeda fighters and their supporters in South Waziristan. Reports suggest that helicopters have dropped leaflets urging tribesmen to convince the supporters to leave the area. The government has also renewed an amnesty offer to foreigners associated with al-Qaeda who give themselves up. Governor of North West Frontier Province, retired Lieutenant-General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, said if the foreigners surrendered and the tribe harbouring them gave an undertaking not to commit violence, they could be allowed to leave with their families. The army says 46 soldiers and 63 opposition fighters died in the two-week South Waziristan offensive against \"terrorist structures\" that ended on Sunday. Another 163 fighters were arrested, it says. (Pakistan.link)