More than 40 people were killed and several wounded in clashes between local and foreign militants on Tuesday in the Azam Warsak and Kaloosha areas, west of Wana in South Waziristan, said officials in the tribal region bordering Afghanistan. Army Spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad could not give an exact figure for the death toll, saying, “The death toll has reached over 40 … this is what I have at the moment. ”A tribal source said the militants were still fighting. The authorities said the clashes began at around 3am, and the majority of the dead were foreigners, mainly Uzbeks. Locals said that among the dead were four children who were caught in the crossfire. AFP reported that 27 children had also been injured. They said that injured people had been shifted to Wana for treatment.
The reason for TuesdayÂ’s clashes was reported to be differences between local tribesmen and foreign militants over the law and order situation. Both blamed each other for the increasing crime rates and deaths in the area.
Agencies add: AFP quoted security officials as saying that heavy exchanges of rocket and mortar fire were made for a second day around Kaloosha, in clashes between pro-government tribesmen and Uzbek militants. AFP said the fighting started after ex-Taliban commander Mullah Nazir, who backs President Pervez MusharrafÂ’s moves to expel foreign fighters, ordered followers of Uzbek militant Tahir Yuldashev to disarm. | Army spokesman Arshad said the military did not intend to step in. However, Reuters quoted an intelligence official as saying that the latest clashes were not a simple conflict between pro-and anti-government forces. |
The officials said that 33 of YuldashevÂ’s supporters were killed and 22 detained. Army spokesman Arshad said the military did not intend to step in. However, Reuters quoted an intelligence official as saying that the latest clashes were not a simple conflict between pro-and anti-government forces. He said the fighting broke out on Monday over the killing of an unidentified Arab with suspected links to Al Qaeda, who was an ally of local tribesmen led by Nazir. The local militants blamed the death on the Uzbeks, triggering a gunbattle in Kaloosha. Reuters reported that almost 50 people had been killed.