President General Pervez Musharraf on Thursday said Pakistan will use ”political or military means” to eliminate al-Qaeda from its lawless tribal areas bordering Afghanistan.
However, Musharraf said this does not mean Pakistan is compromising, and vowed to wipe out the terror group.
His comments come as authorities are trying — without any success so far — to get foreign militants to accept an amnesty that would allow them to stay in Pakistan if they renounce terrorism and agree to live peacefully.
Musharraf, a key ally in the United States-led war on terrorism, said it is ”prudent” to adopt a dual strategy.
”There is no compromise whatsoever. They [al-Qaeda] have to be eliminated whether through political or military means,” he was quoted as saying by the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency.
”Our operations against al-Qaeda in our tribal areas will continue unabated,” he said, addressing a conference in the capital, Islamabad.
In March, a major Pakistani military operation against al-Qaeda fugitives and local allies in the South Waziristan tribal region dislodged militant hideouts, but netted no top terror suspects and had bloody consequences. About 120 people were killed, including at least 48 soldiers.
Since then, Pakistan has pursued negotiations instead and urged local tribesmen to persuade foreign militants to seek amnesty — warning the army could use more military force unless the tribesmen produce results.
The US has been urging Pakistan take more action to ”kill or capture” terror suspects in its tribal regions.
The amnesty is open to all but top al-Qaeda and Taliban leaders.
The rugged tribal regions area a possible hiding place of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda number two, Ayman al-Zawahri. — Sapa-AP