Pak ‘sanctuary’ for rebels: US Afghan envoy

Guerrillas from Afghanistan’s Taliban militia and the Al Qaeda network it once sheltered are using Pakistan as a sanctuary, the US Ambassador to Afghanistan said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a police graduation ceremony, Zalmay Khalilzad said senior Al Qaeda members including Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and Afghan warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar must be brought to Justice.

‘‘The remnants of extremist Taliban, Al Qaeda and Hekmatyar want to take Afghanistan to the old days,’’ Khalilzad said. ‘‘They use Pakistan as sanctuary,’’ he said.