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| 19 April 2004 | Monday | 28 Safar 1425 |
Lashkar launches hunt for militants: Talks with wanted men fail
WANA, April 18: Hundreds of armed tribal volunteers on Sunday launched a hunt for foreign and local militants amid reports that some more tribes are expected to enter into an agreement with the government on Monday
to allow greater access to military and paramilitary forces in their areas.
A lashkar of about 2,000 Zalikhel tribesmen swung into action after negotiations with the five most wanted tribesmen aimed at their surrender failed.
Armed with AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, the Zalikhels on pick-up trucks drove through the dusty plains to reach Shah Alam, about 20km to the west of Wana. Shah Alam is the place where a jirga had met the militants recently in an attempt to negotiate their surrender.
The lashkar raided an abandoned house of two brothers, Ghulam Khan and Hazrat Khan, at a place about 5km from Shah Alam. The two are suspected of providing shelter to local and foreign militants. The volunteers fired rockets at the house, setting it on fire.
Another lashkar of about 600 tribesmen drove into the Kaloosha village and Azam Warsak to search for the wanted men. Nobody was found there. Lashkar commander Allagai Wazir warned that people sheltering militants would have to pay Rs1 million in penalty and that their houses would be demolished.
Tribal elders expressed suspicion that the wanted tribesmen and militants, including their leaders Nek Muhammad and Sharif, had slipped away from the area. But Allagai Wazir said his lashkar would go ahead with its plan of searching for the militants and vowed to find them.
Wana deputy administrator Rehmatullah Wazir told this correspondent that the lashkar was 'gaining momentum'. His optimism was not misplaced as tribal elders said that three more sub-tribes from Shakai area were expected to enter into an agreement with the authorities on Monday.
The understanding would allow the government to move forces and officials under tribal protection into Shakai to verify the absence or otherwise of foreign militants and their local supporters.
Mr Rehmatullah Wazir said that elders from Khuniakhel, Shudiakhel and Spirkai from what is called the Other Ahmadzai Wazir tribe were also expected to sign the proposed agreement. Tozikhel tribe of the Other Ahmadzai Wazir has already agreed to cooperate with the government.
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