ISLAMABAD, April 2: A 'fresh operation' is likely to be conducted in Wana to net foreign militants, a senior official in the interior ministry told Dawn on Friday.

The official said there was movement of a fresh batch of troops towards Wana as the deadline given to five tribal fighters to surrender will end on April 10.

He said the deadline was given by the elders and tribal leaders on the instructions of army and other law enforcement agencies.

When contacted, director general Inter Services Public Relation (ISPR) Shaukat Sultan confirmed that there was movement of troops towards the tribal area. However, he said it was a routine movement and should not be linked with the expiry of the April 10 deadline.

The ISPR chief denied the possibility of a fresh operation being conducted in the troubled area in the near future.

A source said government representatives had told tribal elders at a meeting in the South Waziristan town of Wana that a group of five Pakistani tribal fighters, wanted by the authorities for giving refuge to foreign militants, had to surrender.