Free Republic

WANA, Pakistan (Reuters) - A Pakistani tribe whose members are accused of harbouring al Qaeda fighters is preparing to launch a hunt for the militants, after those sheltering them refused to surrender, tribal elders said on Friday. The decision came after five men said to be sheltering al Qaeda rebels near the Afghan border rejected demands by a traditional tribal assembly either to surrender, leave the area or promise not to protect foreign militants. Tribal elder Malik Shireen Jan said the hunt by a force of tribesmen numbering nearly 2,000 men for al Qaeda militants and their Pakistani allies would...

NEW YORK: Pakistan army still appears to be helping Taliban in Afghanistan as they prepare for a major confrontation in coming spring, a media report said. Pak army still appears to be helping Taliban American intelligence officials possess satellite photos that "purportedly" show Pakistani army trucks picking up Taliban troops fleeing back across the border after a failed attack. After the US confronted Pakistani officials with the photographs, signs of visible Pakistani aid to the rebels ceased, Time magazine said. It quoted US and Afghan officials as saying that the US has also provided Islamabad with specific locations of two...