Islamabad: Embarrassed by its statement of not arresting Osama bin Laden if 'Laden decides to lead a peaceful life', Pakistan now has retracted from it and asserted that the dreaded terrorist would be brought to justice.
Major General Shaukat Sultan told a news agency, “Pakistan is committed to its policy on war on terror, and Osama caught anywhere in Pakistan would be brought to justice."
This comes after ABC news had broadcast a video footage where Maj-Gen Sultan had said to the television news channel that Pakistan would not arrest Osama if he would express a desire to lead a peaceful life.
Laden is reported to be hidden in the Chagtai hills along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
Pakistan’s earlier statement was given just after it concluded a peace pact with pro-Taliban groups in the North Wazirstan area and has created a stir in the US, as Laden is US’s most wanted man.
Earlier, the Pakistan Embassy in Washington had said that Maj-Gen Sultan was misquoted by the news channel, adding that Pakistan was as committed as ever to apprehending Osama.
On Thursday, a senior White House official said that his country hoped that the amnesty offered by the Pakistan government to tribal militants did not apply on Osama bin Laden.
He also expressed hope that Islamabad would continue to make efforts to hunt Osama down.
"Pakistan will continue to hunt for Osama and he will not allow him to benefit from an amnesty offered to tribal militants, hopes the White House. It's simply not true that somehow bin Laden or members of Al-Qaeda would get a free pass if they keep their noses clean," White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said.
Snow added that Pakistan had clarified that "the cease-fire is not going to diminish efforts to apprehend Osama bin Laden or bring him to justice."
Comments
0 comment