Pakistan Seeks Interpol Help For Taliban Leader Return From Afghanistan

Islamabad, Feb, 24, IRNA – Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik Saturday said that the country will demand handing over of Pakistani Taliban leader Maulvi Faqir Muhammad from Afghanistan through the Interpol. Afghan intelligence officials had earlier confirmed to the media the arrest of Maulvi Faqir, former deputy chief of Pakistani Taliban, in eastern Afghanistan this week. Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday that Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar had talked to her Afghan counterpart Zalmay Rassoul Friday night and hoped that the Taliban leader will be handed over to Pakistan as he is wanted for attacks on forces and the civilians. The Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesman had refused to hand over the captured Taliban leader to Pakistan, saying there is no bilateral agreement for exchange of prisoners. After Kabul’s refusal, now Pakistan Interior Minister says that his government will approach the Interpol to seek Faqir’s extradition. Talking to the media persons in Islamabad ‚ he said Maulvi Faqir Muhammad arrested by the Afghan authorities is wanted in different cases in Pakistan. “We want his deportation to Pakistan so that action could be initiated against him according to the law of the land,” Malik said. Faqir, who had been chief of Taliban in Bajaur tribal region, had fled to Afghanistan after the 2008-9 military operation in his area, Pakistani officials say. He was suspected to be behind attacks on Pakistan forces in Bajaur and later launching attacks on Pakistani border posts from Afghan soil. The Taliban leadership had removed him as deputy of the group after reports that he was involved in unauthorized talks with the government. Afghanistan says that Pakistan has also refused to hand over the Afghan Taliban prisoners to the country when Afghan authorities asked for their return at a London summit this month. Responding to a question about the dialogue offer of the Pakistani Taliban‚ Rehman Malik said that the Taliban will have to demonstrate seriousness for talks. “They first have to surrender their weapons before the negotiations,” he said. Taliban have rejected calls for laying down arms and their spokesman, Ehsanullah Ehsan, says that ceasefire could be on the agenda if the talks are started./end