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| 24 November 2004 | Wednesday | 11 Shawwal 1425 |
Two Tajiks arrested in Waziristan
MIRAMSHAH, Nov 23: Security forces arrested two Tajik militants, one of them a 15-year-old boy, in the Makin area of South Waziristan on Tuesday, military sources said.
The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) officials said in Peshawar that two tribesmen and two soldiers were wounded in the operation when a militant lobbed a hand-grenade on security forces.
The ISPR officials said volunteers of the Mehsud tribe and the security forces conducted a joint operation and captured two foreign militants near Spin Kamar in the Makin area adjacent to North Waziristan.
The arrested foreign militants have been identified as Abdul Qahar, 26, and Hussain, 15, both belonging to Tajikistan. They were first brought to Razamak, a sub-division of North Waziristan, and then taken to Peshawar for interrogation.
Sources said the security forces had encircled the area to arrest the militants who managed to escape. They recovered four hand-grenades, two Klashnikoves and several rounds.
Residents said volunteers of the Mehsud tribe who had set up a checkpoint in the Makin area stopped a pick-up for search near Spin Kamar. The tribesmen made the three travellers alight from the pick-up and suspected them to be foreigners. They informed the local peace committee in the Makin area about this who sought assistance from the paramilitary forces.
According to the ISPR, one of the suspects lobbed a hand-grenade on the security forces and managed to escape. As a result, two security personnel and two tribal volunteers received minor injuries.
Dilawar Khan Wazir adds from Wana: Corps Commander Peshawar Lt-Gen Safdar Hussain has directed the law-enforcement agencies to return small arms to the Mehsud tribesmen, captured during the recent search operation, officials said.
The decision was taken after the Mehsud tribesmen protested against the seizure of their personal weapons and warned that they would stop cooperating with troops in the ongoing operation if the seized weapons and ammunition were not returned.
Sources said that a delegation of the Mehsud tribe held a meeting with Lt-Gen Safdar Hussain in Peshawar on Tuesday and apprised him of tribesmen's resentment. They said Gen Safdar immediately directed the authorities concerned in Wana to return small arms to the tribesmen. He also directed the troops to give full regard to tribesmen's sensitivities while conducting search in the area.
However, the troops would recover heavy weapons, explosives, improvised explosive devices and other lethal weaponry which could be used in terrorist activities.
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