Kidnapped Pakistan Diplomat Seen In Video

Government Refuses To Negotiate Release Of Taliban Prisoners In Exchange For Captured Ambassador's Freedom

(CBS)  Written for CBSNews.com by Farhan Bokhari, reporting from Islamabad.

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Pakistan on Saturday ruled out releasing any Taliban suspects already in its custody in exchange for Tariq Azizuddin, the country’s ambassador to Kabul, who was kidnapped in February while he was being driven from Pakistan to the Afghan border.

Azizuddin’s driver and a bodyguard also went missing in an incident which underlined the dangers to Pakistani government officials from militants linked to al Qaeda and the Taliban who are engaged in an armed struggle in the Pakistani region bordering Afghanistan.

Within hours of a video shown on the Middle-Eastern Al Arabiya TV channel in which Azizuddin pleaded for his government to meet the demands of his Taliban captors, a Pakistani government official refused to consider releasing any Taliban suspects. “We are not in the business of such exchanges” said the official who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity.

The video was the first tangible proof of Azizuddin being in Taliban custody after weeks of speculation over the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

Shortly after Azizuddin’s kidnapping, reports in the Pakistani press claimed that his captors were seeking the release of Mullah Mansoor Dadullah, a notorious Taliban commander who is in Pakistani custody. He is the brother of Mullah Dadullah Akhund, the top Taliban commander, killed by NATO and Afghan troops in Afghanistan in 2007.

Surrounded by armed men who appeared to be Taliban militants, Azizuddin was quoted in remarks translated into Arabic saying; “We were kidnapped by mujahideen from the Taliban. I suffer health problems such as high blood pressure and heart pains”.

The senior Pakistani official who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity confirmed the authenticity of the video and said, “As things stand right now, we are not going to negotiate with militants and we can’t release people [already in custody] in exchange [for Azizuddin]."

But, Western diplomats warned, Pakistan faced a number of tough choices in trying to resolve Azizuddin’s case.

Last summer, up to 250 military and paramilitary troops were kidnapped in a region along the border with Afghanistan, in the largest such incident ever in the country’s history. They were subsequently released amid reports that Pakistan agreed to the release of up to 20 Islamic militants who were caught mostly from the border region.

“Having already set the precedent for the release of militants, the problem is that they [militants] probably feel that Pakistan can be open to similar exchanges in future” said a senior western diplomat based in Pakistan in remarks on background to CBS News.

Others noted that the terrain along the border region (from where the Taliban and followers of al Qaeda operate) poses several difficulties in launching a clear operation to attempt rescuing Azizuddin. The region is mountainous with a number of small villages scattered across largely barren land where local inhabitants rely on seasonal rainfall and raising cattle to earn their living. Locating Azizuddin in the villages would be an uphill task unless Pakistani security forces were to have clear and strong leads pointing towards his location.

Since Azizuddin’s kidhapping, Pakistani security officials have also speculated that his captors may have taken his across the border to Afghanistan, beyond the reach of Pakistan’s law enforcement services.

Other challenges include one where large parts of the local population along the border is believed to be hostile towards President Pervez Musharraf, the pro-U.S. ruler, who has been Washington’s closest ally in its war on terror. Getting the local people to support efforts to track down Azizuddin so far have proved to be futile.

“The conditions are not suitable for a resolution to this kidnapping that would suit the Pakistani government. This is a very dangerous situation for the ambassador” said a Middle East diplomat based in Islamabad who is familiar with conditions in Afghanistan, and spoke to CBS on condition of anonymity.

[kretos-2009]

Benazir Bhutto who has been killed few months ago says " Osama Bin Laden was Murdered"
just watch

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnychOXj9Tg

[rohink-2009]

Who cares what bush says as he doesn''''t know his azz from a hole in the ground.


Posted by rharrin1

*******

Funny, that''s how I feel about Jimmy Carter. Were you around during his presidency?

[ioweign]

send in jimmy carter

Posted by libsrweak at 11:26 AM : Apr 19, 2008

That is the most intelligent thing you have said so far.

An 83 year old man is more on the ball than this entire Administration. He knows where the problem is not afraid to go to it. This should be "behind" us by now after 7 years.

[speakinup]

rharrin1 - in your case, there is no mistaking you are an jackass - gee that is the party mascot isn''t it.


"Yes, and from what I can see the GOP and the Bush administration desperately need the terrorists in order to keep everyone afraid and themselves in power. More people die every year from bee stings then terrorism - but of course fighting against insects isn''''t nearly as exciting, is it?"


So Bush is not going to be re-electable. The Republicans didn''t bring down the towers, bee stings don''t constitute a threat that would widen left unchecked, the Democratic party is self-destructing, and my life is FAR from myserable.

Your utter lack of logic is astounding. No wonder the democrats never stood a chance.


Talk about the party of delusionals! Man, you liberals need to get your head out of your azz.

[roger_inkart]

As was said by Bush in the beginning, "You are either with us, or against us."

Posted by speakinup at 11:28 AM : Apr 19, 2008

Yes, and from what I can see the GOP and the Bush administration desperately need the terrorists in order to keep everyone afraid and themselves in power. More people die every year from bee stings then terrorism - but of course fighting against insects isn''t nearly as exciting, is it?

So, guess where YOU fit in? With the co-dependent terrorist enablers. One can only wonder what you would do with your miserable little life if you didn''t have them to be afraid of (and people like me to hate on.)

[speakinup]

Oh, I''m sorry McVet, did I leave you out of the post that claims you are with or for us, and now you feel hurt.


I don''t count the schizophrenics when making that list, except for the politically paranoid.

The way I see it is that people like you can help themselves. They feel like they are getting better once on the meds, then go off in spite of recommendations.

Compulsive disorders - like folks that have to print "Sieg Heil Bush!!" on every post, a propensity to have impairments in perception & expression of reality, and disorganized speech & thinking in the context of significant social dysfunction are all signs of schizophrenia.

And, I feel moraly bound to let you know that you have displayed in all cases.


So tell me, do you have auditory hallucinations?

It is quite clear you are paranoid and have bizarre delusions, so I won''t bother to ask.


You (seriously) need some help, McVet. This is no jest. Psychotherapy can help. Cognitive behavioral therapy will help reduce those antisocial characteristics, and help you with the comorbid self esteem problems you most likey have.

Seek help, for all of our sakes.

[mcvet]

The only way to deal with terrorists and sponsors of terrorists is to take out their entire families. To where their bloodline no longer exists.

They will see for themselves how much killing loved ones hurts to them and think twice about their actions. Fight fire with fire, dammit!


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Posted by corey2444 at 11:32 AM : Apr 19, 2008
+ report abuse

NO Moron it is NOT the way. Just think if those of us who fought the Klan had taken that approach there''d be no one left in the south. NO YOU MORON! What you do is go after them, dig them out and bring them before the people to stand trial like the criminals they are. YOU poor fascist give them a reason to die for GLORY... fighting the "Great Satin... Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

As was said by Bush in the beginning, "You are either with us, or against us."


Guess where yo fit Prinz...


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Posted by speakinup at 11:28 AM : Apr 19, 2008
+ report abuse

Yeah I know... heard that trash from him the day AFTER the Base blamed OTHER American''s for that Attack! To say you freaks have mismanaged this fight is the understatement of a lifetime. Just think your fuhrer started out with 80% of the American People behind him... look at you poor freaks NOW!! But hey you are still pretending you know what to do... even if the enemy knows it before YOU do!! ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush!! Come on swastika breath... be a LOSER because you want to be!! SIEG HEIL BUSH

[mcvet]

send in jimmy carter


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Posted by libsrweak at 11:26 AM : Apr 19, 2008
+ report abuse

LOL Hey at least HE admits they are a PROBLEM... he''s not running away from it that''s sure. What was it your fuhrere told us about them? He''d hunt them down and bring them to justice or some LIE like that wasn''t it? Yeah he hunted them down didn''t he??? ROFLMAO Sieg Heil Bush

[mcvet]

If this video is newly released that is no guarantee of his safety.I hate to admit it but, he is probably dead!!Those terrorist are sick,and they always seem to use those videos for propaganda,and to attract attention too their cause.I feel for that Ambassador and his family,but he is more than likely dead.


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Posted by swwils at 10:54 AM : Apr 19, 2008
+ report abuse

Hey wait a minute!! When I raised the point that the Taliban and Al Queda were NOT defeated... you know back when you and the Fuhrer decided to invade Iraq, YOU called me crazy for saying the same thing. I do wish you Bootlickers would borrow a mind somewere so you could make it up!! Sieg Heil Bush!!

[mcvet]

Is THIS the same Taliban Sir Lies-A-Lot told us didn''t matter anymore when he decided to start HIS war in Iran?? I wonder if that''s one of the 935 LIES listed on that site?? Sieg Heil Bush!!

[speakinup]

libsrweak - I wish I had thought of that!

Too funny, man...

[speakinup]

THIS is why we fight the Terrorists!!!


The more they do things like this, the more I want every one of them dead.




I have to wonder if prizowhales, feelfree1, and others will defend this action of the terrorists. They whine all the time this is just a fear tactic of the US government in their made up war against terrorist, which doesn''t really exist - and then spew their sick, paranoid, dystopian theroies about good people.

So where is the fear generated here ? Isn''t it plain to you now that Terrorism really does exist, and we are on a quest to extinguish it ?

I''m sure there is some way POW can twist this...



As was said by Bush in the beginning, "You are either with us, or against us."


Guess where yo fit Prinz...

[libsrweak]

send in jimmy carter

[swwils]

If this video is newly released that is no guarantee of his safety.I hate to admit it but, he is probably dead!!Those terrorist are sick,and they always seem to use those videos for propaganda,and to attract attention too their cause.I feel for that Ambassador and his family,but he is more than likely dead.

[obama8years]

OBAMA RELATIONSHIP WITH ISM and Other radical groups

canadafreepress.com/index.php/ article/2462

SEARCH the CBSNEWS BOX "Bad Company" and read the CBS opinion article. You dont want to miss it.

The question is if we want a man in the White House who will regularly give his ear to the likes of a Reverend Wright, his and Sabeel%u2019s replacement theologies, and pro-terrorist propagandists like Ali Abunimah on a regular basis? In one sense, Obama could be considered the ISM%u2019s Manchurian candidate given his wide connections to ISM activists and campaign movements such as the Wheels of Justice Tour, Joseph Carr a.k.a. Joseph Smith, Hannah Mermelstein, Anna Baltzer and others.