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Pakistan extends amnesty deadline. Again.
By now they probably have this story on a macro key...
Pakistan extended a deadline to Monday for suspected al-Qaeda fugitives hiding in a lawless tribal region near Afghanistan to accept an amnesty offer or face possible military action, an official said Saturday. The government originally gave foreign militants in the South Waziristan tribal region until Friday to turn themselves in, but none came forward. After talks Saturday with local tribal leaders, Asmatullah Gandapur, the region's top administrator, said the deadline has been extended to give more time to resolve differences over how foreigners should register with the government. He did not elaborate.
| They're still discussing the shape of the table... |
The latest extension came despite a claim Saturday by Brig. Mahmood Shah, chief of security for tribal regions in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province, that the government would not do so. An intelligence official in Islamabad said foreign militants â contacted through local tribal intermediaries and lawmakers â were reluctant to give details about themselves to authorities. âThe foreigners do not want to be photographed. They do not want to give any details to Pakistan because they fear that such things might land in the hands of Americans,â the official said. Mr. Shah reiterated that Pakistan would not turn the foreigners over to other countries if they accept the amnesty offer despite calls from the United States to kill or capture the al-Qaeda fighters still at large. He said if they did not take the amnesty, the government âwill use all options, and that includes the use of force.â
| That may come several months from now, when they've all had a chance to get out of the country. Results will be nil. |
Posted by: Dan Darling 2004-05-09 |
