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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Nek Muhammad back on the warpath |
| 2004-05-19 |
| Pardoned tribesman Nek Muhammad on Tuesday declared war on the government, asking his comrades to prepare for action and calling a search operation by a 1,200-man lashkar in Azam Warsak a âgrave violationâ of the Shakai peace deal with the military. âWe will soon start our activities. I know which targets to hit,â 28-year-old Nek told Daily Times on the phone from an undisclosed location in South Waziristan Agency. âYou and I know my targets very well,â he said but refused to elaborate. âI know where and when to hit my targets,â Nek said. Asked what prompted him to make his intentions public, he said he was upset with the lashkarâs search in Azam Warsak and felt betrayed. âThis is a blatant violation of the April 24 peace deal and I simply cannot accept that,â Nek said. He hoped the lashkar would not come his way but vowed, âI will take on the lashkar if I come across it. I will be acting in self-defence.â âI am not backing out of any pledge. The deal never said that I will force foreigners to enroll with the government,â Nek said. However, he said he had promised to convince refugees living in the area to register. âThese people are ready for registration. And when it was decided that registration will begin at the house of [a local tribal elder] Malik Khanzada, the government suddenly demanded that registration should be held at a government office. That created doubts in my mind and in the minds of refugees about the governmentâs intentions. I am a man of my word but why should I honour something that I never promised. I am not like others who change their statements overnight,â Nek said. âWhat can I do? There is infighting in the government. Various government agencies are out to embarrass each other. If the government wants to do something the ISI creates problems and if the administration wants to do something the government creates problem. There is no unanimity in the governmentâs camp and that is why Waziristanâs return to peace is difficult,â he said. Meanwhile, the 1,200-man lashkar started search operations against foreigners in Azam Warsak on Tuesday. NNI adds: Interior Minister Makhdoom Faisal Saleh Hayat said on Tuesday that the government had not decided to launch another operation in the tribal areas yet and wanted to settle the issue of foreignersâ registration by dialogue. I guess Nek can come down now. I wonder how long it will be till the next deadline? |
| Posted by:Paul Moloney |
| #3 raptor...right you are! |
| Posted by: B 2004-05-19 10:00:51 AM |
| #2 I thought he was talking about Kerry,B. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2004-05-19 7:09:34 AM |
| #1 I am not like others who change their statements overnight,â No, I am like Clinton. What exactly is the meaning of the word "foreigner" anyway? |
| Posted by: B 2004-05-19 6:25:20 AM |