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| India-Pakistan |
| 35 detained in Miranshah |
| 2006-04-22 |
| Political administration detained 35 tribesmen in Miranshah under “territorial responsibility” clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulations and imposed Rs 10.13 million fine on three major tribes on Friday. North Waziristan Chief Administrator Zaheerul Islam told Daily Times that the detained tribesmen would remain in jail as long as the tribes did not hand over militants involved in Thursday’s attack on paramilitary convoy killing around eight soldiers and wounding 22 others near Razmak. He said that three major tribes – Darpakhel, Burakhel and Miranshah Kalay – were collectively fined Rs 10.13 million for failing to meet territorial responsibility by not defending Miranshah against militants’ attacks. Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao confirmed on Friday the death of wanted Al Qaeda explosive expert Abu Marwan Al Suri, calling it major “achievement” in the war on terror. “It is confirmed that he is killed,” the interior minister told reporters after a function during which former provincial minister Haji Ehsanullah Khan joined the Pakistan People’s Party-Sherpao. Sherpao said Suri’s killing was a “breakthrough” since he was “explosive expert of Al Qaeda.” He neither confirmed nor did he deny a report that Egyptian-born another Al Qaeda explosive expert Abdul Rehman Al Muhajir was killed in April 13 military operation near Miranshah. Inter Service Public Relations Director General Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan said on Friday that no timeframe could be given for the ongoing operation against miscreants “however if foreign terrorists lay down their arms and get themselves registered, we can offer them amnesty”, Online reported. Taking to reporters at the ISPR Headquarters, Sultan said the government could not give timeframe on how long the operation against terrorists would last in Waziristan however it could offer them conditional amnesty if they lay down arms, register and live as peaceful citizens. Later, NNI reported that the Bajaur Agency Political Administration held a grand tribal Jirga at Civil Colony Khar and discussed ways to maintain law and order and prevent foreigners’ infiltration here. Bajaur Political Agent Muhammad Fahim Wazir asked tribal elders to strictly monitor foreigners. “Elders have to play a role to avoid creating a Waziristan and Balochistan-like situation in the agency,” he said. Elders should also hold jirgas at tehsil level to identify foreigners and hand them over to the government, he added. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |