TANK: Mehsud tribes of South Waziristan Agency agreed to the government's move to buy heavy weapons at the market price after a jirga (tribal council) met with administration officials on Thursday.
| What exactly is the market price for a T-55, anyway? |
Deputy Administrator Khan Bukhsh told Daily Times that the government welcomed the tribal elders' willingness to sell their heavy weapons. "We welcome Mehsud tribes' agreement and it is an historic moment to see Waziristan takes lead in the disarmament drive," Khan said.
The federal government had told the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) Secretariat to launch a campaign against heavy weapons, including anti-aircraft guns, missiles, rocket-launchers, mortar-guns, antitank mines and other heavy arms, and directed it to buy them at the market price if the tribesmen did not hand over them voluntarily.
During Thursday's meeting it was decided that a second meeting of the jirga would be held on March 14 to discuss modalities for selling the weapons and arrangements for payments. "A committee will be formed at the next meeting to squeeze the gummint dupes for more dough finalise the deal."
Khan told the Mehsud tribes elders that they could keep small arms and gave a special concession to keep AK-47 rifles, popularly known as Kalashnikov, for their protection. Tribal elder Malik Akbar Ali told Daily Times that the Mehsud Jirga agreed to the government offer to buy heavy weapons from the tribesmen. "We have approved the government's offer," they said, adding that they had certain reservations regarding their security.
"Living in the tribal area close to the border (with Afghanistan) without weapons is a dangerous game to play," the tribal elders said, demanding the government provide them protection when the tribesmen were disarmed. The tribesmen also demanded money for their confiscated weapons during search operations by security forces. Khan told the jirga that he would inform the government about their demand.
| "My cousin Mahmoud from Afghanistan could come over here at any time and pop me. Now whatcha gonna do 'bout that, huh? Huh?" |
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