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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Lashkar hunt's over in Azam Warsak |
| 2004-05-20 |
| The Ahmadzai tribal Lashkar on Wednesday completed its hunt for foreigners in the Azam Warsak area and set ablaze a house of an al-Qaeda sympathiser in Shulam, some seven kilometres from here. Action against Muhammad Khan was taken due to his sympathies for the ousted Taliban and al-Qaeda men, whom he calls "holy warriors". He also opposed the use of force against them. Addressing tribesmen after demolition of the house, chief of the 36-member committee, Allah Khan Wazir, warned that resistance to the Lashkar would not be tolerated. He said similar punitive actions would be taken against those creating hurdles in the way of the tribal force. He said those found sheltering foreign militants would face destruction of their houses, a fine of one million rupees and expulsion from the tribal territory. The 4000-strong Ahmadzai tribal Lashkar has completed hunt for aliens in Azam Warsak and its surroundings and is likely to start operation in Shakai area on Thursday (today). A militant commander, Nek Muhammad, who along with other supporters of al-Qaeda in the region was pardoned under Shakai Deal on April 24, has announced to resist the Lashkar. Nek and his supporters believe that registration of foreigners was not part of the Shakai Agreement. The Lashkar was formed after talks between the authorities and tribesmen representing their foreign comrades over registration failed. Both sides now accuse each other of violating the Shakai peace deal. Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports say that the NWFP Governor, Iftikhar Hussain Shah, is likely to visit Wana, regional headquarters of South Waziristan tribal agency, this week. AFP Adds: Hundreds of armed tribesmen scoured villages along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan on Wednesday in a fresh hunt for al-Qaeda-linked foreigners who have refused government demands to formally register themselves, officials said. "The Lashkar is now in action," military spokesman Maj-Gen Shaukat Sultan told AFP. "The government standing offer of an amnesty has gone unheeded as no foreigner responded to register with the authorities to seek permission to live peacefully in the region," a local administration official said. Residents said militia leaders addressed several gatherings in Azam Warsak and Razagai areas near Wana, the main town in South Waziristan tribal district where the foreign fugitives have taken refuge since late 2001. "They went to these towns asking residents if they knew of the presence of foreigners in their areas," resident Baqai Khan told AFP, speaking by telephone from Wana. "The Lashkar was told that no foreigner was hiding there." |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #1 "Our work here is done. Now it's Miller time, boyz. Last one back to the hutment buys the first round." |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-05-20 12:19:02 AM |