November 30, 2001	Friday	Ramazan 14, 1422

CHAMAN, Nov 29: Talks with the Taliban on surrendering the border town of Spin Boldak have stalled over the fate of foreign fighters trapped inside, a tribal commander said on Thursday.

“I have information that 300 Al-Qaeda members are in Spin Boldak and they are asking the Taliban not to surrender so that they can protect themselves,” Mohammad Anwar, a commander for tribal leader and former Kandahar governor Gul Agha Sherzai, said.

The members of Al Qaeda had demanded through Taliban negotiators that their lives be safeguarded, Anwar said.

“We rejected their demand to assure their lives,” Anwar said.

Anwar is a top commander for Gud Fida Mohammad, a former mujahideen leader, whose forces have been poised for days outside Spin Boldak, facing Chaman.

Various Pakhtoon tribal factions are jostling to end Taliban control across the region so that they can seize territory before a planned traditional Loya Jirga and the possible return of ex-king Zahir Shah from his 28-year Roman exile to form a broad-based government.—Reuters