New Delhi, Apr 18: With Al-Qaeda and Taliban operatives holed up in South Waziristan on Pak-Afghan border refusing to lay down arms or hand over five "most wanted" leaders, Pakistan has given them an ultimatum to surrender or leave the country by Tuesday next and US-led forces are planning a fresh offensive in Afghanistan, Pak media reports said. The extremist leaders held at least two rounds of meetings with tribal leaders at their grand 'jirga' (general conference) over the past few days, but refused to hand over the five men who are accused of aiding and sheltering top Al-Qaeda- Taliban operatives, reports in 'Jang', 'Dawn' and 'The Friday Times' said.

Following the refusal, the tribal groups have promised the local Pakistani administration to create a 2,000-strong force to nab the "most wanted" men and foreign terrorists operating with the Al-Qaeda-Taliban in Afghanistan, 'Dawn' said.
As the tribal-extremist talks did not yield any result with the extremists rejecting the demand, the 'Jang' quoted army spokesman Maj Gen Shaukat Sultan as saying in Peshawar that the "political process" was on and efforts were continuing to resolve the issue through negotiations.


He warned that operations could be carried out if needed, but force will be used as a last resort.

The five men and Al-Qaeda-Taliban remnants have been given time till April 20 to either surrender or get "safe passage" out of Pakistan after laying down arms, several dailies including 'Dawn' said. Bureau Report