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| India-Pakistan |
| Mehsuds formally ask army to leave Tank compound |
| 2007-10-26 |
| Chieftains of the Mehsud tribe have formally requested that the Pakistan Army evacuate the political compound in Tank, South Waziristan. Tribal elders submitted a written application framing this request to South Waziristan Political Agent Hussain Zada Khan on Thursday. In the application, the tribal elders say the Political Katchairy in Tank has been the headquarters of the Mehsud tribe since 1906. They say hundreds of citizens belonging to the Mehsud tribe, including veiled females, visit the compound daily in connection with formalities and documentation relating to national identity cards, domicile and other such routine matters. The application says the army had slowly taken over the political compound, which caused locals severe stress. The elders requested that the army evacuate the political compound to respect and restore the rights of local citizens and tribal traditions. Tank, a small town on the edge of South Waziristan, has drawn much attention of late as it is seen to typify creeping Talibanisation in the North of the country, particularly in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. It is largely considered to be under the sway of the pro-Taliban South Waziristani commander Baitullah Mehsud. The significantly increased troop deployment in the area, which has been in place for months now, is perceived to be part of efforts to block the Taliban commander from expanding his influence into neighbouring Dera Ismail Khan. Local citizens and government officials have commented that military deployment and operations, along with General Pervez MusharrafÂ’s attempted reforms in the area have eroded the power of the local administration and curtailed citizenÂ’s rights. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Who would win? You and me, that's who. |
| Posted by: Angusoth Jones3773 2007-10-26 13:50 |
| #1 If Tank and Swat had a war, who would win? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-10-26 11:06 |