Peace efforts hit snag as govt refuses to free militants
By Alamgir Bhittani
TANK, Dec 8: The fragile peace in South Waziristan reached through the release of prisoners in exchange for kidnapped security personnel has run into new problems raising the spectre of violence in the volatile agency.
Sources said the government had turned down a request by tribal elders to release seven more militants in addition to 25 already freed in return for 247 kidnapped soldiers.
Tribal negotiator Malik Amir Mohammad said that under the deal the government was bound to set free the remaining seven militants and would act in accordance with the Sararogha peace agreement.
He said that the peace efforts suffered setback after the government backed out of the deal.
He said that the elders had held meetings with the NWFP governor to break the deadlock, but he (governor) also refused to grant their request.
“Governor Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai has categorically told negotiators that the gov-ernment will not fulfil the demands and cannot release the remaining prisoners,” said Malik Amir.
The government had freed 25 militants in exchange for about 247 soldiers who were freed on Nov 4.
Militant commander Baitullah Mehsud’s supporters had kidnapped soldiers, including eight officers, on Aug 30.
The sources said that the talks between the government and the elders of the Mehsud tribe had deadlocked after Governor Aurakzai turned down their request which they believed would diminish peace prospects in the region.
Malik Amir said that a jirga of the Mehsud tribe would be held in Tank on Monday to discuss the issue.
He said that a close aide of Baitullah Mehsud, identified as Raees, was arrested from Dera Ismail Khan some three days ago which created more complications.
Meanwhile, security forces shot dead an armed man in Omar Adda near Tank city when he did not stop for checking.
