Regional leaders in the tribal regions and the province of Waziristan are desperately proposing alternatives to what appears to be a pending action to clean house. Today the region’s leaders plead for more time for talks and the opportunity for local law enforcement to have the first crack at removing the foreign fighters who clearly are Taliban and Al Qaeda refuges hiding out from international justice:

Pakistani security officials have said hundreds of foreigners, including Arabs, Uzbeks, Chechen and Afghans are hiding in the North and South Waziristan tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, Pakistani security forces backed by helicopter gunships attacked a suspected Al Qaeda hideout in the rugged frontier and killed dozens of suspected militants, mostly foreigners.

The military said the slain militants included an Al Qaeda-linked Chechen commander.

Musharraf said foreign militants were also involved in acts of terrorism within Pakistan. “I will not tolerate the presence of these terrorists in Pakistan. They should leave our country,” he told the rally Thursday.

A senior Interior Ministry official told Daily Times that during meetings with the president on FATA, the ministry opposed frequent army operations against militants in the tribal areas. The president was advised that the Frontier Constabulary and Levies should be made responsible for taking action against militants in Waziristan and other troubled tribal areas. The ministry called for continuing the dialogue process to find out a political solution to the conflict. It proposed that pro-government tribal elders be encouraged to gain support for the government from tribal people.

Sources said the ministry was of the view that there was still room for talks with tribal elders to ask them to expel foreign militants. It said that the process of dialogue through the office of the NWFP governor must be strengthened and leaders of the ruling and opposition parties help overcome the crisis.

Sounds like a last ditch effort to me. The truth is if the regional leaders did march the foreign fighters to the Afghan border or to the Pakistan forces for deportation there would be no need for military operations. This option has been available and is available. So the way to avoid action is to take their own advise now. From our allies in the UAE, who we insulted recently, we learn this about the foreign fighters:

Pakistani security officials have said hundreds of foreigners, including Arabs, Uzbeks, Chechen and Afghans are hiding in the North and South Waziristan tribal regions bordering Afghanistan.

Earlier this month, Pakistani security forces backed by helicopter gunships attacked a suspected Al Qaeda hideout in the rugged frontier and killed dozens of suspected militants, mostly foreigners.

The military said the slain militants included an Al Qaeda-linked Chechen commander.

Musharraf said foreign militants were also involved in acts of terrorism within Pakistan. “I will not tolerate the presence of these terrorists in Pakistan. They should leave our country,” he told the rally Thursday.