A top Uzbek rebel leader wanted by authorities in his home country might be hiding in the tense tribal region that forms the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a senior Pakistani general said Saturday. Tahir Yuldash, political leader of the rebel Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, was wounded in March when the army raided a suspected al-Qaida hide-out on the outskirts of Wana, the main town in South Waziristan, said Army Maj. Gen. Niaz Khattak. But Yuldash managed to escape along with hundreds of other militants.
| "Curly-toed slippers, don't fail me now!" |
"Yes, Tahir Yuldash might be hiding here, and we have some information about it," Khattak, who is responsible for military operations in the North and South Waziristan tribal regions, told reporters in Wana. Khattak also said the army had no information about the whereabouts of Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden or his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, who are thought to be taking refuge in the region. During the March operation, the army said it killed 63 militants and arrested 163 foreign and local suspects. The majority of the tribesmen were released after promising to stay away from foreign militants.
"We promise!"
"Cross our hearts!"
"And hope to... ummm... turn yellow!" |
At the time, Uzbekistan had requested "detailed information" about Uzbeks who were captured or killed. Khattak said "about 600 to 700 foreign militants are still hiding or on the run" in the country's tribal regions. "We are chasing them, we will kill or capture them," he said. Khattak also showed the passport of a Jordanian terror suspect, Abdullah al-Haj. The passport, he said, was among items seized after the June 11 raid at the home of a local tribesman, Eda Khan. Khattak said Khan's home was being used by al-Qaida men as a safe house. He said Khan was arrested and is being interrogated.
| "Mahmoud! The plyers, please!" |
According to the private Geo television, al-Haj might have links with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a wanted terrorist who has been targeting U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq. |