ISLAMABAD, June 28: Intelligence reports put the number of Al Qaeda fugitives having regrouped in the Pakistani tribal belt at under 500 and suggest further operations in and around Waziristan to apprehend them.

“Our best estimates are that in the entire area there are now not more than 500 Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters,” a military intelligence source told Dawn on Friday. He said these estimates were based on intelligence reports obtained by both Pakistani and US security agencies that are collaborating closely in the ongoing operation to capture Al Qaeda members.

Sources disclosed that “quite a few” unmanned UAV predators operative over the tribal belt have also contributed in the assessment of Al Qaeda presence there.

“These UAVs essentially give real time, accurate information and have aided in search operations,” sources said, adding that these flying objects, comparable to flying saucers, were also equipped to fire.

Officials said the Al Qaeda members taking refuge in the tribal belt could be apprehended within days if they remained in the area. “They cannot go far and will be caught sooner or later,” claimed a source closely involved with the search operations.

Sources said Pakistani forces had taken a number of steps to tighten their hold on the security situation in the Agency following Tuesday night’s bloody gun-battle inside a house in South Waziristan. They said that at least one American security personnel was within the firing range when Pakistani forces and Al Qaeda members exchanged fire killing 10 Pakistani soldiers and militia-men.

Security sources concede that the killing of the 10 army men in the shootout was due to a “slight miscalculation”.

“There was basically an error of judgment regarding assessment and intentions by the executing party,” said a defence official, adding: “Given the tribal elders’ assurances to them of full co- operation the raiding party did not expect such violent retaliation.”

Dawn Dawn learnt on authority that at the time of the shootout two American intelligence communication experts were present close by. One of them, a middle-level officer, was in the firing range and had a narrow escape.

US embassy spokesman said here on Friday that he had no knowledge of the American involvement in the South Waziristan operation.