'Holy wars': Pakistan militants vow to avenge Bin Laden death

Milita­nts distri­bute pamphl­ets pledgi­ng holy war to mark first annive­rsary of the killin­g of Osama bin Laden.

MIRANSHAH: Militants in Pakistan’s North Waziristan on Tuesday distributed pamphlets pledging holy war to mark the first anniversary of the killing of Osama bin Laden, albeit a week late.

Masked militants armed with assault rifles handed out copies of the pamphlet from pick-up vehicles in Miranshah, the main town of the tribal district that has become known as Pakistan's premier al Qaeda and Taliban hub.

"Let us pledge today that we will continue our jihad (holy war) and sacrifice our lives and property in the way of Allah like Sheikh Osama did," it said, unsigned and dated May 2, the anniversary of the al Qaeda leader's killing by US troops.

"Today, a year since Sheikh Osama bin Laden embraced martyrdom, the enemy America is repenting. It is facing defeat and Pakistan's future is also bleak," it said.

The pamphlet distribution followed two days of rare fighting between troops and militants in Miranshah that killed 19 soldiers and civilians, officials said.

Bin Laden was killed on May 2 2011 in a secret US Navy SEAL operation in a walled-off compound in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad.

Pakistan went on high alert last week over fears of revenge attacks, but the anniversary passed off peacefully.