E-MAIL THIS LINK
To: 

Taliban patrol, set up checkposts in Lower Dir
Local Taliban have increased patrolling and set up checkposts in their Lower Dir stronghold after seeing paramilitary vehicles in the area, residents and other sources told Daily Times on Saturday.

A convoy of six vehicles carrying paramilitary personnel visited the Shago Hayaserai site on Wednesday -- where the Lower Dir district police officer and former district nazim Alam Zeb Khan had been killed last Sunday. Local Taliban commander Hafeezullah said the military had violated an "informal peace accord" in the area by travelling without prior consultation with the Taliban. "Therefore we are alerting our force to combat the army in case we are attacked," he said, adding that peace in the area was being disturbed by the government as part of a conspiracy to pave way for another military operation. Residents say the Taliban have started patrolling on the roads for the first time in the area, carrying weapons and checking vehicles. Several families are leaving their homes. The sources said the Taliban patrol roads in Kumbar, Lal Qilla, Bagh, Bandai and Shadas in the day and have faced no resistance. They have set up checkposts at Shakar Tangi, Kaladag, Shadas, Bijligar Hayaserai and parts of the Upper Maidan.

Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi chief Sufi Muhammad cooled down tempers in the area after a meeting with paramilitary officials on Wednesday. The troops reportedly assured him they went to the area only to see the Shago Hayaserai crime scene that police officials were reluctant to visit. Forces moved back to Timergara after the meeting. "The only solution to the deteriorating situation in the district is that the government should immediately enforce the Nizam-e-Adl Regulation and appoint qazis in all districts of Malakand Division," Rizwanullah, son of Sufi Muhammad, said while talking to Daily Times. He said the government should not deploy troops to the area if it was sincere in establishing peace.

Posted by: Fred 2009-04-05
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=266874