The Hindu : International : Uzbekistan seeks details from Pakistan on captured militants

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 04, 2004

International

International

Uzbekistan seeks details from Pakistan on captured militants

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, APRIL 3. Uzbekistan has sought detailed information from Pakistan about Uzbeks captured during the operation in the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan even as the Pakistan Army dropped leaflets from a helicopter in a remote tribal region urging tribesmen to help capture suspected foreign militants.

The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Masood Khan, conceded at a news conference that Islamabad had received a request from Uzbekistan seeking details of its citizens captured in the operation and it was under consideration.

Uzbekistan is facing attacks from ultra right-wingers which has claimed several innocent lives.

Since Pakistan joined the U.S.-led coalition against terrorism in the wake of 9/11, Pakistani agencies have captured several hundred suspected Al-Qaeda and Taliban fugitives from its territory. Over 600 of them have been handed over to the United States after the respective countries of the alleged militants refused to take them.

Militants holed up in the tribal areas of Pakistan are engaged in a grim battle with the Pakistani forces for several weeks now.

In the fiercest operation which ended last week, over 120 people, including 46 Pakistani security men were killed. Pakistan believes that after the recent capture and killing of over 100 militants, another 400 to 500 foreign elements are still hiding in the area.

The Director-General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Shaukat Sultan, denied reports in a section of the press that Pakistan had rushed more troops to the tribal area. He said the existing forces have been re-positioned and fresh operations would be undertaken as and when necessary.

The leaflets, in both Urdu and Pashto language, were dropped on Friday in South Waziristan, the scene of a major military operation last month. "Tribesmen are great friends of the Pakistan Army," read the leaflet. "These foreigners are misusing your hospitality. They are not your friends ... they are terrorists. You should help your army to flush them out."

On the proposal for the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar bus service, Mr. Khan said that a technical-level meeting was scheduled on April 8. It would be led by the Additional Secretary, Communication, from the Pakistan side while a Joint Secretary would lead the Indian delegation.

He said the restoration of dialogue between India and Pakistan was part of the confidence-building measures and all issues with India would be discussed keeping in view the "national interests" of Pakistan.

About the granting of non-NATO ally status to Pakistan, he said the decision was taken by the U.S. on its own.

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