3 Pakistanis left at Guantanamo

Published September 20, 2004

WASHINGTON, Sept 19: With the transfer of 35 prisoners to Pakistan on Saturday, only three Pakistani prisoners have been left at the US Navy's prison facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Diplomatic sources told Dawn that there were 38 Pakistanis at Guantanamo Bay before the latest transfer that led to the release of 29 of these prisoners. Six were arrested upon their arrival in Pakistan under an arrangement with the United States.

They will be investigated and tried on terrorism charges if Pakistani security agencies confirm US suspicions that they were involved with Al Qaeda. Three others still left at Guantanamo Bay are also among the suspects who had links to Al Qaeda's network in Afghanistan, American investigators say.

Their cases are now being investigated by a US Department of Defence review board and they may also be sent to Pakistan for custody and further investigation once the review is completed.

A total of 60 Pakistanis were brought to the US military facility after the fall of the Taliban regime in November 2001. The transfer included one detainee who was approved for release last week after the US Defence Department's Combatant Status Review Tribunal found that he was not an "enemy combatant."

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.