Oh, yasss... I believe everything they say.
As an official claimed Friday that tribesmen on the Afghan border have agreed to hand over leaders sheltering foreign al-Qaeda fighters after being threatened with a fresh military offensive, authorities in South Waziristan gave an April 8 deadline to Ahmadzai Wazirs to surrender the men behind the killing of two officials.
At the meeting between assistant political agent, Wana, Rahmatullah Wazir, and the elders belonging to the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe in Wana, the latter were told in clear terms that several local tribesmen were on the government’s wanted list for sheltering al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects. Among them were Nek Mohammad, Haji Sharif and his brother Nur Islam, Maulvi Abbas and Maulvi Abdul Aziz belonging to the Yargulkhel section of the Zalikhel sub-tribe.
| It's the same thing, over an over again. Couldn't they at least vary the order of the names? |
According to some of the participants of the meeting, the assistant political agent also held the Zalikhels and Yargulkhels responsible under the concept of territorial responsibility for the recent murder of the two Tehsildars, Matiullah Burki and Mir Nawaz Marwat, after being taken prisoner in the Azam Warsak area. The tribes were reminded that failure on their part to apprehend the killers could entail grave consequences for some of the Yargulkhels and Zalikhels. The tribal elders were also told to ensure that all non-Pakistanis leave the area or turn themselves over to the government. The tribal elders were informed that the recent military operations in South Waziristan could be followed by more offensives to achieve the objectives. "You have seen only 3 per cent of the military operations. There could be 97 percent more operations," threatened one government official. The elders were advised to have mercy on their women and children and refrain from illegal activities. They were reminded that for the first time two Tehsildars were captured and killed, thereby challenging the government authority. They were also told that the all tribal Jirga comprising elders from the different tribal regions had also complained about the lack of cooperation from the Zalikhel tribe and left Wana for their respective areas. According to tribal sources, some of the Zalikhel elders blamed their Yargulkhel section for the suffering of their tribe. They wanted the Yargulkhels to cooperate with the Jirga and deliver the wanted men to the government. Some of the elders were hopeful that the issue would be resolved by the April 8 deadline.
| My guess is that they're hopeful they can sit and chatter until two or three weeks after Doomsday, with nothing being done... |
Reporters were not allowed inside the Frontier Corps Camp in Wana. The action, apparently ordered for security reasons, has been criticized by the Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ). The TUJ demanded access for journalists to all such events. Meanwhile, Urdu language handbills with pro-government messages were thrown by helicopters in the Wana area on Friday. Similar handbills were distributed at most checkposts in and around Wana on Thursday. The pamphlets declared that the Pakistan Army, the paramilitary Frontier Corps and the tribes were all Pakistanis and were united in fighting anti-state elements and others. The handbills also advised the local tribesmen not to give refuge to foreigners who had misused their hospitality and ask them to leave Pakistan. On the other hand, the 6,000-member strong Mahsud tribal lashkar, or force, dispersed after reaching Barwand village in Sarwakai tehsil in South Waziristan on Friday. The armed lashkar, which had assembled at Spinkai Raghzai two days ago, drove to Ladha and Makeen the next day and had an overnight stay at Deelay village. On Friday, the Lashkar returned to Sarwakai and then dispersed at Barwand. Mahsud tribal elders and Ulema who accompanied the Lashkar spoke at the rally at Barwand before it dispersed. The elders said the Lashkar had seen the terrain and its route and would be able to resume its work as and when needed. They said the three-day journey of the Lashkar would serve as a warning to those harbouring suspected terrorists and giving refuge to foreigners.
| In other words, they went for a drive, shook their guns, made faces, and went home. I'm so impressed. The Bad Guys must be shaking in their curly-toed slippers. |
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