The tribal elders Sunday held talks with the Zalikhel leaders during a jirga called to convince the sub-tribes of Zalikhel to hand over the wanted local harbourers of al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects hiding in the area under their control. The elders of one sub-tribe, Yadokhel, refused to extend their cooperation in locating Nek Muhammad, Muhammad Sharif, Abdul Aziz and Gul Islam, government-wanted sympathizers of suspected militants and their consequent handover to the political administration, saying they are unable to do something in this regard. During the jirga, the leaders of Usmankhel, Kakakhel, Sheikh Wazirkhel and Yadokhel tribes apprised the jirga about their replies to the government requests about cooperation in dislodging al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects allegedly hiding in the Afghan-bordering areas controlled by them.
Sardar Malik Behar Khan, the chief of Kakakhel tribe, said the government wants one man of his tribe for providing sanctuary to the suspected militants. He held out an assurance to the jirga that the wanted man will be handed over to the political administration shortly. He said all the demands and conditions of the administration will also be effectively met in the future. Sardar Malik Behar said no suspected militant will be left in the area under their control ...
| "They'll go visit my second cousins in my half-brother's nephew's clan in Waziristan, next province over!" |
... and the tribal people will extend maximum possible support and cooperation to the government in flushing out militants from the area. Elders of the Usmankhel tribe also came up with the same standpoint against al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects and their local sympathizers. However, Yadokhel tribe refused to extend their cooperation in handing over Nek Muhammad, Muhammad Sharif, Abdul Aziz and Gul Islam, who are accused of harbouring suspects in the area. They expressed their helplessness in the matter, saying they were unable to arrest them.
| "Y'see, they have lots more guns than we do. We feel ashamed to admit this, y'know." |
The elders sought help of another tribe, Ahmedzai Wazir, in the fight against militants allegedly hiding in the troubled area, where the military forces carried out strong crackdown against alleged al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects recently. Meanwhile, the jirga decided that another meeting will be held in Wana today (Monday) to settle the dispute with South Waziristan administration. People are anticipating a big military offensive in the area if the tribal jirga fails to sort out the imbroglio. |