Several thousand villagers fled North Waziristan on Wednesday, where an army offensive was expected any day following pressure on Pakistan from the United States to act against Al Qaeda cells. Since President George W Bush spoke on Saturday of being “troubled” by Al Qaeda re-gathering its strength in Pakistan’s tribal lands, some kind of counter-terrorism operation has appeared highly probable in North Waziristan. “We have no choice but to pray to Allah for the safety of our lives,” said Akbar Khan, a labourer in Miranshah, worrying that his family risked being caught in the crossfire by staying.
Bush said President Pervez Musharraf realised action was needed, and the army has deployed more troops to the region where a week earlier militant tribesmen, supporting the Taliban and harbouring Al Qaeda, scrapped a 10-month-old peace deal with the government. The army said it has killed at least 54 militants in clashes since Saturday, largely in retaliatory actions, but the increased deployments added to a tense atmosphere.
Thousands of villagers streamed out of Macha Mandakhel village, 40 km west of Miranshah, after the army warned it would be cracking down in the wake of an attack on a convoy which killed 12 soldiers last week.
Movements of military and paramilitary convoys in and around Miranshah and Mir Ali towns had become more regular, while checkposts had been reinforced. Soldiers, fearful of suicide attacks, have opened fire on cars approaching their checkposts too fast.
The main road connecting the tribal region with the rest of Pakistan was blocked by security forces after militants fired rockets on Esha checkpost near Miranshah. “We’re so scared. This time, the situation is worse than last year. In the past, we used to go with our family and children to Bannu city but now, it is not safe there either,” said Noor Ahmed Khan, a shopkeeper in Miranshah’s main bazaar. In the towns, militants who had roamed around the main bazaars in four-wheel-drive vehicles with tinted glass windows were spotted less often.