October 29, 2008	Wednesday	Shawwal 29, 1429

KOHAT, Oct 28: The elders of Mamozai tribe of Orakzai Agency on Tuesday returned after holding talks with local and foreign Taliban at some undisclosed place for three days persuading them to leave the area.

It was learnt that most of the militants belonging to Darra Adamkhel, Mardan and Matani besides 50 to 60 foreigners had already left the lower Orakzai Agency and some areas in upper Orakzai. They were now converging at the border between Khyber and Orakzai agencies after developing serious differences with the local militants who were under pressure from people to evict them.

Sources said that both the sides had reached an agreement that non-local Taliban including Arabs, Uzbeks and militants from other tribal areas should leave the area whereas the local Taliban should lay down arms and destroy all the training camps and headquarters whether or not sponsored by Al Qaeda. “And that if local Taliban assure of their good conduct in future they can remain in the area,” a tribal elder told Dawn on Tuesday night.

The Mamozai tribe, the biggest in the Orakzai Agency, was the only one which had so far not expelled foreign Taliban and failed to tame local militants as decided during the two-day proceedings at a jirga with the political agent last week.

Political Agent Kamran Zeb told Dawn that almost the entire area in the upper and lower parts of the agency had been cleared of Taliban. He said that Mamozai tribe was the only exception where militants had gathered after fleeing from other tribal areas and parts of Orakzai Agency.

“Their headquarters and safe havens are still intact in Mamozai area, located at border with Kurram Agency owing to lack of courage in its two sub clans. I made it clear to them during the two-day jirga held in Hangu last week that the writ of the government is to be restored in their area at all costs and I will not accept fake and cosmetic actions. They shall clear the area completely and report to me within next 72 hours. The administration will confirm their submission from its own sources and then give them the assurance that no military operation will be carried out on their soil,” he added.

Mr Zeb said that now the situation had changed and Taliban were being hated due to their anti-people policies. He said that they kidnapped and slaughtered people, hijacked vehicles, blew up bridges and schools at will which had changed public opinion about their real agenda behind jihad.

To a question, he said if Mamozai tribe failed to implement the decisions made at the jirga, each tribal elder would pay Rs5 million as fine and had to lose his house. If they could not stand against the militants they should face the music and get ready for military action, he added.