Tribesmen fought fresh battles with foreign militants on Thursday, leaving one tribesman dead and shattering a week-old ceasefire in South Waziristan. Security officials said Uzbek and Chechen insurgents traded heavy weapons fire overnight on Wednesday with local tribesmen. “Fighting has started again between local tribesmen and foreigners and they are using heavy weapons and small arms in the Azam Warsak and Kalusha areas,” a local government source said.
One pro-government tribesman was killed and three were injured, they said. A local tribal commander said that fighting would continue until all foreign militants were expelled from South Waziristan. “Though a jirga is still trying to negotiate a ceasefire, our position remains firm that all Uzbek militants should leave the area,” Haji Sharif, a supporter of Mullah Nazir, told AFP. Meanwhile, tribesmen claimed to have captured five foreign militants in fresh clashes in Wana, Azam Warsak and Sheen Warsak, Online reported. |