| The political administration launched a crackdown against the Ashrafkhel Shinwari tribe on Wednesday in Landikotal for sheltering Taliban as security forces started a search operation in Abdal Khad area to arrest Taliban. The political authorities arrested close to a dozen people from the sub-tribe of Khugakhel Shinwari under the Frontier Crimes Regulation, said an administration source. More than 70 shops owned by Ashrafkhel tribe in Landikotal Bazaar were sealed and a vehicle impounded, said the source. The crackdown and the search operation were launched to force the tribe to surrender Taliban commander Hazrat Ali Shinwari, said a Khasadar official. He said the Taliban had regularly targeted an army camp and checkposts in Landikotal over the last few days. Meanwhile, the security forces continued shelling suspected Taliban hideouts in the far-flung areas of Landikotal. |