New Delhi, November 13
Taliban supremo Mullah Mohammad Omar has been evacuated from Afghanistan and taken to Gilgit (northern areas) in Pakistan with the help of the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), while the Mullah’s family and Osama bin Laden are still at separate places in Afghanistan, according to the latest classified reports received here.
Bin Laden is still at an unknown hideout in Pakhtia province of Afghanistan which is close to Pakistan’s Baluchistan province. According to well-placed sources, Bin Laden, who is carrying a cash reward of $ 25 million (US) on his head, dead or alive, may cross over to Pakistan.
It is likely that Bin Laden may go to Pashtoon-dominated border areas as in these areas the writ of Pakistan’s federal government hardly runs. If this were to happen it would be the most embarrassing development confronting Gen Pervez Musharraf as the Pashtoons have a tradition that they would defend their guest to their last breath but would not desert him.
Pakistan’s Pashtoon-dominated areas would be the safest place for Bin Laden and top brass of his Al-Qaida terrorist network as the US-led forces obviously cannot launch military strikes on the soil of their frontline ally — Pakistan.
Sources said at least two sons of Bin Laden had already entered the North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) of Pakistan. Mullah Omar’s family is being evacuated from Kandahar.
Quoting eyewitnesses on Afghanistan-Pakistan border, two yellow-coloured jeeps with black tinted glasses were seen rushing out of Afghanistan from Kandahar and moving towards Malakand area in NWFP.
The ISI agents have taken custody of Mulla Omar and transported him to Gilgit, a part of Northern Areas which was a part of untruncated Kashmir. The latest reports indicate that his present hideout in Gilgit has been surrounded by more than hundred Afghan Pathans who had arrived there earlier for his protection.
With the Northern Alliance forces in Kabul, Taliban has vacated Kandahar city also. Taliban forces have further withdrawn to southern Afghanistan.
