Pakistani tribal leaders in North Waziristan claim that they will “oust foreign fighters from the area in 15 days” if the Pakistani military does not launch a military operation in the tribal agency. From Dawn:
A representative jirga (tribal elders) of North Waziristan Agency on Friday agreed to oust foreign fighters from the area in 15 days as they assured Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Mehtab Ahmed Khan that all efforts would be made for restoration of peace in the agency.
The North Waziristan Taliban, led by Hafiz Gul Bahadur had given a June 10 deadline to the government to avert a likely military offensive in the area following their Shura meeting last month. They had vowed to take up arms against the government in case a major operation was launched as it accused the authorities of breaking a non-aggression treaty with their tribes.
Rumours about military operation have created uncertainty in North Waziristan with several Afghan families have already gone back to Afghanistan.
Today’s jirga was led by Utmanzai Wazir and Dawar tribal elders – the two main tribes that inhabit North Waziristan – and Haji Sher Mohammad Khan, a descendent of the famous anti-colonial rebel Faqir of Ipi.
The jirga demanded of the government to stop the likely military operation in North Waziristan as they said it was not a solution and the crisis should be settled through dialogue.
Jirga member Maulana Muhammad Din Haqqani said that the tribal elders have assured the KP governor that they will expel foreign jihadists from their soil within 15 days.
All I can say is, don’t hold your breath. Over the past decade, Pakistani tribal leaders in North and South Waziristan, as well as in the other five tribal agencies, have promised to expel foreign fighters (al Qaeda, etc.) in their areas. They’ve always failed to live up to their promises.
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5 Comments
What do you make of this news regarding hanging of 12 Taliban by Pakistani terrorists in Nuristan:
http://www.rferl.org/content/militants-hang-taliban-commanders-in-eastern-afghanistan/25412707.html
http://www.khaama.com/12-taliban-commanders-hanged-to-death-by-masked-men-in-nuristan-6188
The Pakistanis are threatening to launch their long-awaited offensive into North Waziristan immediately after the deadline expires if this doesn’t happen. Time to see if they truly are serious about it this time.
Will this latest attack on the airport trigger a response from the government and are the groups related. The news is reporting that there were Uzbeks in the assault force. Has the Taliban group operating out of North Wazristan claiming great for the airport attack??
Rumour says Afghan army is ready for a vast operation in Kunar / Khost area. It times well with a Pak army surge in North waziristan and also with “masked insurgents” taking over in Kunar to establish
a new safe haven if forced over the border by Pak army + NW tribes.
The Afghans need to get something going before the end of the year. Once the Combat Aviation Brigades pull out, they will not have the usual CAS support. The ANA fixed wing CAS is not due to come on line for a few more years. The COF is still doing most of the CAS EVAC for the ANA. Back in the early days, CAS EVAC was the ANA throwing soldiers in the back of Ford Rangers and driving like hell. It will be interesting to see the ANA conducting solo operations. My past experience has been that they can fight, but have no logistical tail. I wish them the best of luck. However, it is scary to look at the precedent being set in IRAQ. We poured millions into their Army and Police, but they are starting to lose control of familiar areas.