Pakistan militant group vows to escalate fight in Afghanistan

Nazir is a low-profile figure and is a force to be reckoned with: Former chief of security in the tribal regions.

DERA ISMAIL KHAN/ ISLAMABAD: One of Pakistan's most powerful militant groups plans to step up its fight against American troops in neighbouring Afghanistan in response to intensified US drone missile strikes on its territory, two of its commanders said on Wednesday.

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had been pounding an area of South Waziristan along the Afghan border controlled by Maulvi Nazir, one of Pakistan's most influential militant leaders.

"Because the United States is launching these strikes we will send more fighters to Afghanistan and step up our operations against U.S. forces. We have no other option. We have no weapons which shoot them (drone aircraft) down so we will fight the United States in Afghanistan." Maulvi Younus, one of Nazir's senior commanders, told Reuters.

Since Friday, at least 34 militants had been killed in four drone strikes, intelligence officials said.

An escalation by Nazir's men in Afghanistan could complicate the United State's efforts to pacify the country as it starts a gradual troop withdrawal in July. Earlier in the week Defence Secretary Robert Gates had said there could be political talks with the Afghan Taliban by the end of this year, if the U.S.-led NATO alliance continued to make military gains on the ground, putting pressure on the insurgents.

Pakistan and the 'Good Taliban'

Pakistan, which the United States wants to act more decisively to help its war on militancy, has no strategic reason to attack Nazir and his fighters. They are among the so-called ‘good Taliban’, militants not opposed to the Pakistani state who focus on trying to defeat U.S.-led NATO and Afghan forces across the border.

Pakistan struck a deal with Nazir's men in 2007 under which they would not harbour anti-government militants in exchange for not being targeted when the army started mounting offensives on the Pakistani Taliban, which is close to al Qaeda.

Military officials in Islamabad say the government is building a road for Nazir's fighters so they can avoid moving through an area controlled by rival militants.

Commander Younus called on the Pakistani government to end the drone strikes, but said his group had no intention of breaking the pact.

He declined to say how many fighters Nazir has at his disposal but Pakistani intelligence officials put the figure at about 1,200.

They mainly use rocket-propelled grenades, AK-47 assault rifles, machine-guns and mortars, commanders say.

While the drone strikes have killed high profile militants, they also fuel anti-American sentiment in Pakistan. The campaign had also enabled militants to recruit more people like relatives of those killed in the strikes.

"We have lots of mujahideen (holy warriors). It is not a problem. If drone strikes continue we believe many tribesmen will join us because they (drone strikes) are killing ordinary people. Our shura (council of commanders) will decide on the appropriate time to send more fighters (to Afghanistan) and how many will go." said Qari Yousaf, a close aide to Nazir

Afghan and Pakistani militants train together in unruly tribal areas, where they plot shootings and suicide bombings.

"We have our own system. We remain in touch with our brothers (the Afghan Taliban). We are sons of this soil. We know how to cross the border and from where," said Yousaf.

Nazir is a low-profile figure who avoids the limelight. Mahmood Shah, former chief of security in the tribal regions, says Nazir is a force to be reckoned with.

"He is religious, non-egotistical, sincere and very motivated," said Shah. "Even if he decided to fight al Qaeda, he can. That's how determined he is."

Pakistan has come under mounting U.S. pressure to go after militants who enjoy sanctuaries in Pakistan and cross over to fight in Afghanistan since it was discovered that Osama bin Laden had been living in the country long before he was found.