Islamabad: Efforts to secure the release of two Chinese engineers abducted by pro al-Qaeda Pakistani militants failed for the second time today (Oct 13, 2004) as one of their leaders refused to meet the tribal negotiators sent by Pakistan Government.

Pakistan faced a piquant situation as Abdullah Mahsud, the 29-year-old pro al-Qaeda tribal militant recently released by Washington after 25 months of detention at the Gauantanmo Bay declined to meet the tribal leaders, asserting his demand that the Pakistan Army provide safe passage to the Chinese engineers and their kidnappers to travel to his secret hideout, local TV networks reported.

Some reports said Mahsud is demanding the stoppage of Pakistan Army operations in South Waziristan to flush out foreign militants from the area. But there is no official confirmation.

Pakistan estimates that over 600 al-Qaeda militants are holed up in the inaccessible region.