What happened to Musharraf’s threats to remove all foreigners from the tribal areas? Once again, either empty threats or deliberate lies.
We should either hand over FATA to Afghanistan/NATO/US or stop BSing the world. Tribal areas are a Taliban and Al Qaeda stronghold. And what is wrong with these jihadis? They can’t even stop from killing their own brethren.
Musharraf has only emboldened them with this “peace deal” and with such low credibility, will Balochis even listen to him?
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\21\story_21-3-2007_pg1_1
40 killed in Waziristan clashes
- Death toll on the rise as fighting continues
By Zakir Hassnain
PESHAWAR: 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 Tuesday’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 Musharraf’s moves to expel foreign fighters, ordered followers of Uzbek militant Tahir Yuldashev to disarm.
Security officials say Yuldashev, the head of a group called the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, had links to Osama Bin Laden.
The officials said that 33 of Yuldashev’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.
http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\03\21\story_21-3-2007_pg1_2
Musharraf tells militants to surrender
- President opens Gwadar Port
- Asks people to vote for his associates
GWADAR: President General Pervez Musharraf warned militants on Tuesday that they should lay down their arms, otherwise “they will be eliminated and allowed to exist no more”.
“Where does decency stand on the way to blowing up gas pipelines and railway tracks? These elements are opposed to development and want their hegemony to prevail. I warn them to surrender, otherwise they will be eliminated and they will not be allowed to exist any more … these miscreants are minimal in number, and we will deal with them. If they want to fight, I know (how) to fight more than them,” said Musharraf while inaugurating the Gwadar deep-sea port here on Tuesday. Port operations began with the unloading of cargo from three ships.
He said that 2007 would be election year, and called on people to reject extremists, and “vote for my associates … if they stay, there will be development”.
About the suspended chief justice, the president said it was a constitutional and legal matter, and the Supreme Judicial Council would be “free” to make any decision. “It will be acceptable to us whatever decision it makes. However, certain elements are trying to politicise this issue. I will counter them with the might of the masses,” he added. He said the Gwadar Port would serve as a trade corridor for Central Asia, China and the Gulf.
He said the 950-kilometre Gwadar-Turbat-Khizdar-Ratto Dher road would be completed within two-and-a-half years. Musharraf said that the foundation stone for Somiani Port would be laid this year. online