WASHINGTON, Jan 29: There are no Pakistanis among the Al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners held by the United States at its naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba, according to information received here on Tuesday.
The nationalities of those detained at the camp have not been publicly disclosed, but US officials have said the countries to which the prisoners belong have been informed of their presence. Pakistani diplomatic sources in Washington say they have not heard of any Pakistani nationals being held at Guantanamo.
Most of the prisoners are said to be Arabs, with a sprinkling of Afghans. Saudi Arabia says around 100 of the 158 are its citizens, and Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef is quoted as saying his country demands that they should be subject to the kingdom’s laws. There are also three British citizens, two of them with names that suggest a Pakistani-origin.
The US on Monday categorically stated that the detainees, who are classified as “unlawful combatants,” would not be given the status of prisoner of war as defined in the Geneva Conventions. However, how this determination is to be given legal cover still remains an open question.
