Bush 'approved US raids in Pakistan'

George W Bush secretly signed a classified order authorising US special operations inside Pakistan.

WASHINGTON // George W Bush secretly approved US military raids inside Pakistan against alleged terrorist targets, according to a former intelligence official with recent access to the Bush administration's debate about the strategy to fight al Qa'eda and the Taliban inside the lawless tribal border area. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the classified order. The official said that Mr Bush signed the classified order over the summer. It gives new authority to US special operations forces to target suspected militants in the dangerous area along the Afghanistan border. In addition to the presidential approval for special operations missions, conventional ground troops have new authority to pursue militants across the Afghan border.

The "rules of engagement" have been loosened, allowing troops to conduct border attacks without being fired on first if they witness attacks coming from the region. That would include artillery, rockets and mortar fire from the Pakistan side of the border. The Pakistani government is not told about the targets in advance because of concerns that the Pakistani intelligence service and military are infiltrated by al Qa'eda and Taliban supporters, the former official said.

US counterterror operations along the border are highly unpopular in Pakistan, whose new leadership is trying hard to show independence from Washington. At the same time, the former official said, the Pakistan government recognises that its settled areas are increasingly targeted by militant attacks emanating from the tribal region and its military is not equipped to counter the threat. *AP