| President Pervez Musharraf, a key ally in the U.S.-led war on terror, vowed on Thursday to eliminate al Qaeda militants hiding in Pakistan's wild tribal region, whether by political or military means. Speaking at a security conference in Islamabad, Musharraf said Pakistan's latest efforts to seek the surrender of hundreds of foreigners living in the semi-autonomous region should not be construed as a "compromise" in its fight against terror. "Our operations against al Qaeda in our tribal areas will continue unabated," the official APP news agency quoted him as saying. "There is no compromise whatsoever, they (al Qaeda) have to be eliminated whether through political or military means." |