August 31, 2002	Saturday	Karachi, Jamadi-us-Saani 21, 1423

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WASHINGTON, Aug 30: One of the most-wanted men in Uzbekistan is in hiding near the Pakistan border but can’t be extradited despite a treaty between the two countries, the Uzbek Embassy in Washington said on Thursday.

Quoting Uzbek President Islam Karimov, embassy officials said Tohir Yoldashev, the political and ideological leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, was hiding near the Afghan-Pakistan border, but from time to time he lived in Pakistan as well.

Karimov said it was difficult to fully implement the extradition treaty with Pakistan because the authorities in Islamabad wanted proof of his presence there.

“For the time being, we are not able to convince the Pakistani leadership and foreign ministry of the need for fulfilment of the signed document on extradition,” Karimov said.

The Pakistanis want proof Yoldashev is in the country, he said.

In 2000, the Uzbek Supreme Court sentenced Yoldashev and Juma Namangani, another IMU leader, to death in absentia.

Namangani’s whereabouts are unknown, although some reports have suggested he may have died during the US action in Afghanistan. Karimov was cautious, however.

“I will believe (in his death) only when a physical evidence is discovered,” Karimov said.

Karimov said the IMU was breaking down and its members were scattered around Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The IMU, which the US government regards as a terrorist group, is a coalition of Islamic militants from Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries opposed to Karimov’s secular regime.