Pakistan: 10 days for Tribesmen to find al Qaida supporters

Apr 21, 2004
Pakistan Gives Tribesmen 10 More Days to Find Suspected Al-Qaida Supporters in Remote Region
By Riaz Khan
Associated Press Writer

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistan gave tribal militias an additional 10 days Wednesday to hunt down al-Qaida terrorists and their sympathizers in a remote border region before a threatened military crackdown.
Tribal leaders had asked for the extension, saying their efforts to track down the suspects in the South Waziristan region near the border with Afghanistan were sincere and they needed more time beyond a deadline that expired Tuesday.

The militia members are searching for suspects including five local men wanted for allegedly sheltering al-Qaida suspects. Leaders of the militia met Tuesday with one of the fugitives, Naik Mohammed, at an undisclosed location.

Mohammed asked to be allowed to consult with his supporters until Friday before responding to demands by fellow Zalikhel tribesmen to surrender.

The May 1 deadline was announced in Peshawar, the capital of the northwestern border province, after a meeting between the local governor, Syed Iftikhar Shah, and military leaders, officials in Peshawar said.

Before announcing the new deadline, Shah met dozens of tribal elders. He said the government would extend the ultimatum but wanted results, according to Malik Waris Khan Afridi, who attended the meeting.

Last month, more than 120 people were killed in intense battles with militants in a government operation against al-Qaida holdouts and allied tribesmen in the region. More than 160 militants were arrested, but no senior al-Qaida figures were among them, and hundreds of other suspects escaped.

Tribal elders had pledged their help after the government threatened another attack.

The region is believed to be a hide-out for foreign fugitives and Taliban fighters, including al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and his No. 2, Ayman al-Zawahri.
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