PESHAWAR, Oct 8: Authorities on Wednesday launched a crackdown on Zalikhel-Qarikhel tribe accused of sheltering the Taliban and Al Qaeda suspects in the South Waziristan tribal area, bordering Afghanistan.

The operation has been launched after a three-day deadline set by the authorities for the leaders of the tribe to hand over three tribesmen accused of harbouring Al Qaeda suspects passed.

The tribe has sought guarantees from the government that their fellow tribesmen would not be handed over to the United States.

“The crackdown has begun,” administrator of South Waziristan Mohammad Azam Khan told Dawn by telephone.

The paramilitary forces have begun arresting members of the tribe, sealing their shops and seizing their transport.

Eight Al Qaeda suspects were killed and 18 other caught in a military operation in Baghar village, 45km northwest of the regional headquarters, Wana last week. Two soldiers of the Pakistan army were also killed in Operation Al Mizan.

Officials said the tribe had violated an agreement reached in May that they would not provide sanctuary to Al Qaeda suspects and hand over to the government all those suspects they came in contact with.

Azam Khan said the government was holding the entire tribe responsible under the collective responsibility clause of the Frontier Crimes Regulation.

He said 32 Zalikhel-Qarikhel tribesmen had been arrested and over 20 of their vehicles impounded. Besides, their property had been sealed under the law as part of an economic blockade to pressure them into producing the three accused.

The tribe said the accused who had given sanctuary to Al Qaeda suspects had gone into hiding, and asked the government to give it more time to trace the culprits and hand them over.

Azam Khan confirmed that the tribe also sought the government guarantees that the accused would not be handed over to the United States.

“I have given them the guarantee that the accused would be tried under Pakistani laws and on Pakistani soil,” Mr Khan said.

“They are satisfied and their response has been positive. I am optimistic that the tribe will surrender the accused for questioning,” he added.

Mr Khan said the administration had also identified 12 other tribesmen who were also suspected of harbouring Al Qaeda suspects. He said notices had been served on the tribe to surrender the 12 accused for questioning by a Joint Interrogation Team.

A deadline has been set for the surrender of 12 suspects which expires on Friday, he said. “I have asked them to hand over these people. I have told them they would not be turned over to the Americans. No Pakistani will go to Guantanamo. I have given them an undertaking,” he said.

Various other tribes have also started holding jirgas to review the situation. “They are seeking time to think and discuss the proposition. They are willing to cooperate with the government but I am not going to give them more time. They had not honoured their pledge that they would not shelter Al Qaeda militants. My job is to enforce the writ of the government and that’s what I am going to do,” he said.