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No operation against Taliban in Pakistan, says Minister
A whole lot of denying going on.
IRNA - Pakistan Monday said that no operation has been launched against Taliban and no Taliban leader has been handed over to U.S authorities. Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat speaking at a news conference in Islamabad denied claim by U.S spokesman in Afghanistan that Pakistan has handed over two Taliban leaders to the U.S forces in Afghanistan.
| "No, no! We're keeping them for ourselves! We're gonna find them seats in parliament..." |
He denied reports that a country-wide crack-down on the wanted leaders has been launched after Kabul handed over a list of its wanted people now hiding and operating from Pakistani soil to destabilise the Karazi-led Afghan administration. Hayat also denied reports that Afghan President Hamid Karzai or any other Afghan official handed over list of wanted Taliban leaders to Pakistan during their recent visit to Pakistan.
| "It's all a big lie! There is no list! We have no Taliban in Pakistan! There is no al-Qaeda! There is no Pakistan! This is all a figment of your imagination!" |
President Karzai told reporters in Islamabad last week that he has given names of a few wanted Taliban to Pakistan and a detailed list would soon be handed over to Islamabad. Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan on Monday also denied receiving any list but said that several names were given to Pakistan and he said Pakistan is investigating into the list. Pakistan has been denying presence of Taliban leaders in the country but Afghan authorities insist some of the leaders are in Pakistan.
| Apparently they're at home to Reuters or AP, but not to Pak coppers... |
Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Abdullah said on Saturday that Mulla Omar is in Pakistan, the claim denied by Pakistan Foreign Office and Interior Minister. Reports said Monday that an operation has been launched after Kabul administration reported to the higher authorities in Pakistan that fugitive leaders of the past regime were fuelling and funding regrouping of Taliban in Afghanistan.
Too many denials for it not to be true. Must be for internal press coverage, trying to keep the local fundi's happy.
Posted by: Steve 2003-04-29 |
