|
Tribes seek air support in fight against foreigners
 The elders of the Ahmedzai Wazir tribe have formally requested the government for air support and supply of weapons against foreign militants, a deputy spokesman for Maulvi Nazir-led militants told Daily Times on Thursday. Key elders like Malik Saeedullah and Malik Sher Jan met Political Agent Hussainzada Khan in Wana to request for airstrikes on Uzbek strongholds and provision of light weapons, the deputy spokesman told Daily Times by telephone from Wana.The request comes 16 days after an anti-Uzbek campaign was launched around Wana. However, military spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad said the army had received no such request from the tribes so far. Let the request come and then we will see what action can be taken, Arshad told Daily Times by telephone from Rawalpindi. He said that at least 240 Uzbek militants had died in clashes with the local tribesmen since fighting started against the foreigners, adding that 60 tribesmen had been killed in the clashes. Meanwhile, the militant spokesman said that the tribal elders told the political agent that the government should help the tribes in the fight against foreigners. We badly need helicopters to bomb the strongholds of the Uzbek militants. We also need assault rifles and ammunition, the spokesman quoted the elders as saying to the government official. The militants spokesman said that Wana bazaar has been closed for the recruitment of volunteers and public transport has been impounded to deny safe passage to the foreigners. Posted by: Fred 2007-04-06 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=185064 |