Pakistan has released 78 Pakistani and Afghan tribesmen arrested during a recent counterterrorism operation near the Afghan border, and has extended a deadline for suspected fugitives to surrender.
Local official Hamayun Khan said the 78 men had been freed on Saturday by the army in the northwestern city of Peshawar after investigators declared them innocent, allowing them to return to their homes in South Waziristan.
PHOTO: AP
In all, 141 of the 163 Pakistani and foreign suspects captured during the March 16 to March18 operation have been released. It was Pakistan's biggest offensive since it joined the US-led war on terrorism in late 2001. The operation, which left more than 120 people dead, ended when tribal elders sought time to negotiate a deal between militants and the army.
A week ago, five powerful tribesmen accused of harboring al-Qaeda men accepted an amnesty offer, promising to live peacefully and not help foreign terrorists.
As part of the deal, the army promised to release all prisoners proved innocent. It has not identified any of the detainees, but none are believed to be senior al-Qaeda or Taliban figures.
The regional army chief set last Friday as a deadline for the hundreds of foreign militants who'd escaped arrest to surrender, saying that if they pledged to stay out of trouble, and were vouched for by the local tribe, they'd be allowed to stay in South Waziristan.
The interior minister has said the amnesty is open to all foreigners there -- except Taliban and al-Qaeda leaders.
By Friday, no foreigners had come forward, raising fears of renewed bloodshed. On Saturday, however, army spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said authorities had agreed to a weeklong extension in the amnesty offer. He said local tribal elders had approached the government, seeking more time to convince foreigners to lay down arms and register themselves with the authorities.
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