Islamabad: Pakistan has extended by a week the deadline for amnesty to al-Qaeda and Taliban militants holed up in its tribal areas bordering Afghanistan after yesterday's (Apr 30, 2004) ultimatum to surrender or face military action passed without a single foreign militant turning up to lay down weapons and seek clemency.

The deadline has been extended by seven days to give another chance to the foreign militants, Pakistan's Defence spokesman Shaukat Sultan said.

Security Chief of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Mehmoos Shah said the deadline has been further extended to ally the fears of the militants.

"I think the foreign militants are reluctant to surrender fearing their arrest or onward handing over to US," he said.

Al-Qaeda and Taliban militants were given time till yesterday to surrender or face new military action. However, the ultimatum expired yesterday without a single foreign militant emerging from hiding to register with authorities and seek clemency.

Pakistan set the last deadline on April 24 when it granted amnesty to five local tribesmen accused of sheltering foreign fugitives, following a military offensive in March in the South Waziristan tribal region.

Reports from South Wazriristan tribal agency bordering Afghanistan said a tribal jirga or council of elders will be held this weekend to explore ways to convince the foreign militants to surrender.