No headway in talks with tribesmen in Waziristan: Blockade continues
By Our Correspondent
WANA, June 23: Talks between deputy administrator and tribal elders ended without any result in the South Waziristan tribal region on Wednesday after authorities linked removal of the ongoing economic blockade with the handing over of two wanted militants, sources said.
A 40-member jirga held talks with deputy administrator Khan Bukhash here in Wana to resolve continuing stalemate in the region, but no headway was made. Sources privy to deliberations said that the deputy administrator had asked the jirga members to hand over two wanted militants Mohammad Javed Kurmazkhel and Maulavi Abbas before the removal of the economic blockade and opening of various routes in the area.
While tribal elders urged the authorities to lift economic sanctions of the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe as good well gesture. The jirga members asked the government to adopt some confidence building measures, otherwise the tribe would not cooperate.
"We asked the authorities to adopt reconcilatory measures to restore people's confidence and ease tension in the area," a member of the jirga said.The jirga will again meet the deputy administrator on Thursday to end the deadlock.
The situation in Wana and other areas is moving from bad to worse due to continuing economic sanctions against the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe amidst shortage of food stuff and health facilities.
Witnesses said that hundreds of Afghan refugees were leaving the Zari Noor camp after the authorities served them notices to leave the region. A doctor said that a refugee woman died of delivery-related complications due to non-availability of proper medical treatment.
He added that refugees had been facing hard times due to the sudden notices served on them by the government. The security forces blocked the main routes and other approach roads heading towards Wana, the regional headquarters.
The authorities also imposed a ban on the movement of local journalists and stopped them from sending information. The local journalists have announced holding of a protest demonstration on Thursday in Wana against restrictions placed on their movement and acquiring information.
Meanwhile, tribal militants elected Mohammad Umar, the elder brother of the assassinated militant Nek Mohammad, as their acting commander for three months. Militants gathered in Kaloosha on Wednesday and endorsed the nomination of Mohammad Umar.
