WANA, Oct 4: In a major development, a tribe in South Waziristan has warned Uzbek militants to refrain from kidnapping and killing tribesmen or risk eviction from their territory.

The warning from Shamsikhel, a sub-clan of Tojikhel in Karikot, came after Uzbek militants released a young tribesman they had held on suspicion of killing an Uzbek, and apologised to the tribe.

The Uzbek militants also presented five lambs to the tribe in accordance with local customs to seek forgiveness. The Shamsikhels warned Uzbeks they would be evicted from Wana if kidnappings and killings of their tribesmen continued.

Sources said it all began when Uzbek militants led by Saif-ul Asad kidnapped Hafeez Wazir suspecting that he was involved in the killing of Babrak Asad, an Uzbek, last week. Wazir was kidnapped from outside his house at around 6am.

The kidnappers announced they would punish the 25-year-old captive in accordance with Islamic laws.

The announcement, locals said, prompted the tribe to constitute a 500-strong lashkar to secure Wazir’s release.

The lashkar warned the Uzbeks of punitive action if any harm came to the captive. The Uzbeks, locals said, immediately approached the tribe through a local militant, Haleemullah, and offered to negotiate.

The Uzbeks then released Wazir and pledged not to repeat the ‘mistake’. They sought assurances from the tribe that they would not be expelled from the area. A jirga of Tojikhel tribe on Tuesday decided to disband the lashkar following release of the kidnap victim and assurances by the Uzbeks.