[The News (Pak)] After months of tension in the militancy-stricken South Waziristan tribal region, the Taliban militants led by Maulvi Nazeer signed an accord with Ahmadzai Wazir tribes on Thursday in which the growing unbridled militants promised to cooperate in the restoration of peace in the region.Taliban leader Maulvi Nazeer and his senior commanders, Shamsullah, Haleemullah and Malang, held talks with tribal elders of the nine sub-tribes of the main Ahmadzai Wazir tribe -- Zalikhel, Tojikhel, Khojalkhel, Gangikhel, Sarkikhel, Mughalkhel, Khonikhel, Ekikhel and Sperkai.
| The Taliban and the Ahmadzai Wazir tribal elders had signed a similar peace accord in April 2007 and then launched an armed campaign against the Uzbek militants in the areas inhabited by the Ahmadzai Wazirs. |
The Taliban and the Ahmadzai Wazir tribal elders had signed a similar peace accord in April 2007 and then launched an armed campaign against the Uzbek militants in the areas inhabited by the Ahmadzai Wazirs, including Wana, Shakai, Azam Warsak and Angoor Adda -- the border town between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Both the Taliban militants and the Ahmadzai Wazir elders were worried of the deteriorating law and order in Waziristan and feared that the dreaded Uzbek militants were once again planning to enter their villages and towns.
Taliban sources told The News that the recent spate of targeted killing of the militants and tribal elders in Wana and adjoining villages had particularly scared the Taliban.