Taliban leader's arrest in Pakistan prompts reprisals

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan - The government will not release a prominent militant suspect despite threats against its security forces by the commander of the Pakistani Taliban, the Interior Ministry chief declared yesterday.

Rehman Malik also laid out what happened during a bloody encounter Saturday in Pakistan's northwest, between militants and paramilitary forces, in which 21 people were killed.

Meanwhile, a suicide bomber wounded at least four people elsewhere in the volatile region - an attack possibly motivated by sectarian rivalry, officials and a witness said.

According to Malik, a Frontier Constabulary convoy heading to examine a post was lured into a trap by five men acting as local guides. The convoy stopped at a roadblock in the Zargari area of Hangu district, and insurgents suddenly appeared.

The five local men said they would go speak to them, but then disappeared.

An ensuing clash killed 16 of the troops, including Karim Khattak, a top local commander for the Frontier Constabulary. Five militants also were killed, including their commander, whom Malik described as an Afghan Taliban fighter.

One of the Frontier Constabulary members hid in a ravine and escaped to tell the tale.

The skirmish was one of the deadliest for Pakistan's security forces in recent months, and it underscored the threat that Islamist insurgents pose in parts of the country's northwest.

Malik said tensions have spiked since the government's arrest last week of a man called Rafiuddin, allegedly a top aide to Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud.

According to Malik, Mehsud is furious over Rafiuddin's arrest and has directed his fighters to kidnap security forces in retaliation and ordered police to release his aide.

The Pakistani Taliban has reacted to the arrest, including staging a siege of a police station, and taking, according to Malik, 19 government employees hostage.

Yesterday, Pakistani Taliban spokesman Maulvi Umar demanded the release of Rafiuddin and other captured militant suspects in return for the hostages' freedom. Umar described Rafiuddin as a cleric and Islamic schoolteacher.

But Malik rejected the militants' demands.

"No terrorist will be released, whatever the price we have to pay," he said.

He ruled out a full-fledged military operation in Hangu, but promised that the government would hunt down the insurgents responsible for the ambush on the convoy.

The Saturday clash occurred in an area wedged between some of Pakistan's tribal regions.

The tribal regions are considered Pakistan's main havens for Taliban- and al-Qaeda-linked fighters, but militants have recently increased activities in other parts of the northwest bordering Afghanistan.

Malik said yesterday that the government had credible information that Afghan Taliban fighters were also operating in Pakistan, and said the countries must develop a solid border security system.

"To save Afghanistan is to save Pakistan and to save Pakistan is to save the world," Malik said. "Without securing the western border we will never be able to eliminate this menace of extremism and terrorism."