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WANA (South Waziristan):
Amid an overall situation, ostensibly persistent as fluid, yet
being envisioned to get improved steadily, in and around this
limb of the tribal belt, 12 troopers of the Frontier Corps,
kidnapped by militants in an onslaught were finally set free
by the captors and handed-over to the political administration
sans any conditions.
Two Nain Teshsildars, components of the Political
Administration, have however not yet been released. Some
reports suggest that they shall be freed, expectantly by
tomorrow, Monday.
Credible sources were of the view that the new course surfaced
after a successful dialogue between Political administration
and leaders of Zilikhail tribe. There was, however, no
definite word of yes or no from any circle, till mid-day
Sunday vis-ŕ-vis the aspect about the remaining two servants,
as the number of those taken into captivity by militants was
earlier put at 14.
Yet a clear situation may come into light by this evening, if
every things goes well, marked by a milieu of harmony and
amity, which rays perceptible.
The release has been a next step on what has been decided in
an agreement took place on Saturday.
Mehsood Jirga
Meanwhile, a Jirga of the Mehsood tribes was held Sunday which
vowed to deal with the situation on its' own, calling upon the
authorities not to intervene. The Mehsoods pledged that they
would like to see amity in the area instead of any skirmish or
scuffle.
It also decided to hold another assemblage at Tank tomorrow,
Monday to draw a strategy, whereby peace could return to the
area, which has been facing a lot of perils for the last
several weeks.
The Jirga urged the authorities to show leniency towards the
people instead of resorting to force. The tribal elders
pledged to ensure peace in the area and extended an all-out
support to the authorities for the resurgence of a tranquil
environment in the tribal areas and elsewhere.
Troops Withdrawal
Yet another report says that after the accord with the Mehsood
tribe, authorities have decided to withdraw troops from the
area in a phased manner, opening vistas for the Mehsoods to
mediate with the outlaws with an eventual objective of
eradicating the menace of terrorism, in its all forms and
manifestations.
Analysts say that such an approach shall prove meaningful to
achieve to goals and all the objectives of the operation to a
logical end.
Secretary FATA Security, Brig. Mehmood Shah said Sunday that
both the process of talks and operation shall continue in the
tribal belt for the annihilation of terrorists'' activities,
in totality.
By now 163 militants have been arrested, with 83 houses raised
and a large quantity of illicit arms and ammunition seized, he
said.
Siege
Though the siege has been finished, a vigilant eye shall be
kept on the doubtful characters and search operation shall be
carried out as and when such a need arises or is deemed
essential and appropriate.
In-depth
The militants in Wana South on Saturday agreed to handover 12
of the 14 officials to the representatives of Jirga comprising
on tribal elders and religious leaders.
An earlier story said that the militants headed by Nek
Mohammad, a tribal of Yargul Kheil, would handover 12
officials to the representatives of the Jirga [tribal
assembly] sometime Sunday.
Backdrop
Some 14 officials including 12 troops of paramilitary and two
of the political administration in Wana were kidnapped by the
militants, cordoned later on March 18 by a joint operational
team of Army and Frontier Corps.
Militants Viewpoint
The militants however, told the tribal elders that they have
only 12 officials with them and not 14. It was however, not
cleared that other two missing officials are the troops of the
paramilitary or belong to political administration.
Sans any Condition
The militants agreed to handover the 12 captives without any
condition “but an agreement was inked at the conclusion of the
meeting between the militants and the representatives of the
tribal jirga,” one member of the jirga said but refused to
tell about the details of this agreement.
The representatives of the Jirga include the elders of all the
six tribal agencies and religious scholars of the area also
two parliamentarians.
Deadline Extended
The Pakistani authorities accepting the request of the Jirga
have extended the deadline for the militants to surrender and
handover the captives till Sunday (March 28).
Update Scenario
Meanwhile some 82 houses were demolished in the cordoned areas
as well as in the areas where the army convoy was attacked
near Sarokai. The mud houses like fortresses were demolished
by troops and the tribal lashkar, private forceof the tribes.
The representatives of Jirga succeeded in inking agreement
with the militants-cordoned by army are Maulana Noor Mohammad,
Maulana Abdul Malik MNA from South Waziristan, Maulana Deendar
and Maulana Abdul Rehman of North Waziristan. The members
representing grand jirga of all the six tribal agencies are
Malik Qadir Khan, Malik Mamoor Khan, Malik Waris Khan, Malik
Gul Shah, Malik Dilawar Khan, Malik Zareen Khan and Malik
Saeed Khan.
More members of the elders in South Waziristan are Malik
Bismillah Khan, Malik Ajmal Khan, Malik Khanzada, Malik Ghulam
Nabi, Akbar Khan, Abdul Azeem Khan, Mama Khan Jakheil and
malik Saif Ullah.
Tribes Moot
Elders in Wana, the Mehsood tribe is holding a grand meeting
of its Jirga on Sunday, today in Wana. The meeting convened is
aimed at constituting a tribal lashkar of Mehsood tribe to
flush out all the foreign militants from the tribal agency.
“Especially the Jirga would move swiftly to eliminate all the
militants belonging to al-Qaeda,” a Mehsood Tribe’s elder told
to this news agency.
Top al-Qaida leader Injured
One of the top al-Qaida leaders, Tahir Yoldeshev, has been
injured during a military operation against the miscreants, a
spokesman of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said
on Saturday.
In a statement, the spokesman said intelligence sources and
other information gathered from those apprehended during
operation indicate that over sixty miscreants have been
killed, while scores of them injured since March 16.
"Sources have confirmed that Tahir Yoldeshev, one of the top
Al-Qaida leader along with his facilitators was also injured
in that operation and is now hiding some where," he added.
Arrests
Over 160 miscreants have been arrested so far.
Dilating upon the situation in Wana area, the spokesman said
the operation is in its final stages and its objectives have
been largely achieved.
"A hardened den of miscreants has been completely dismantled,"
he said while adding, those locals giving refuge to foreign
elements have been uncovered and earlier reports of the
presence of foreign elements in that particular area are
confirmed.
Arms, equipment Recovered
He said arms and equipment recovered from the area indicate
the involvement of these elements in terrorist activities in
the country.
"A variety of explosives, time bomb devices, communication
equipment and wide range of weaponry retrieved from the strong
hold, the type of fighting, trenches and tunnel in the area
are indication of their involvement in terrorist activities,"
he said.
Condemns Brutal Killings of Soldiers
The ISPR spokesman has also strongly condemned the brutal
killing of eight Pakistan Army soldiers by miscreants in South
Waziristan Agency.
The spokesman said that the Security Forces exercise restrain
in the use of fire power and indiscriminate killing is always
avoided and those arrested always treated with dignity.
"No civilized organisation would ever kill the prisoners;
leave aside a cold blooded murder," he added.
He also stated that last night locals from village Zamchana,
about 40 Kilometer north west of Wana came out to confront the
miscreants who were preparing to fire mortars on one of the
posts of the security forces.
In retaliation the miscreants brought fire onto the village,
and as a result one civilian, son of Malik Hakik Khan Gangi
Khel tribe met shahadat (Martydom).
The authorities highly appreciate this patriotic act of Gangi
Khel tribe and pay rich tributes to the Shaheed, the statement
said.
Operation to Persist
Defence Minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal Saturday said that Wana
operation would continue till the achievement of its
objective.
Talking to newsmen in Okara Saturday, he said destroying the
network of terror was the first priority of the government.
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