Waziristan operation: Tribesmen threaten influx into Afghanistan
Amidst talk of military offensive, curfew imposed in much of North Waziristan.
MIRAMSHAH:
Tribal elders and pro-government tribesmen have warned that they would renounce Pakistani nationality and migrate to Afghanistan if the government launched a military operation in North Waziristan Agency.
The warning was issued by a tribal jirga held at Islami Madrassa Nizamia Idak Shura Waziristan in the Mir Ali area on Saturday. A large number of elders from Uthmanzai and other tribes attended the assembly.
They said that they would settle in Khost, Paktia and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan.
The jirga noted that the Afghan government was better than Pakistan as “it does not allow drone attacks on innocent children and women”.
Addressing the tribesmen, local leaders Maulvi Abdur Rahman, Maulvi Gul Ramzan and peace committee chief Mufti Sadiqullah accused the government of violating peace deals in the region.
However, they asked the local populace not to panic and flee their homes as the government has yet not made a formal announcement of launching a military operation in the region.
The jirga formed a committee that would meet with the political agent to ask him about the veracity of rumours of an imminent military operation.
The committee would also convey to the political agent that local tribesmen were body-searched at check posts even though the situation in the agency was relatively calm.
Meanwhile, political administration officials clamped a day-time curfew in most parts of the agency on Saturday.
The curfew hours will be from 5am to 3pm, according to an official announcement.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2012.
Tribal elders and pro-government tribesmen have warned that they would renounce Pakistani nationality and migrate to Afghanistan if the government launched a military operation in North Waziristan Agency.
The warning was issued by a tribal jirga held at Islami Madrassa Nizamia Idak Shura Waziristan in the Mir Ali area on Saturday. A large number of elders from Uthmanzai and other tribes attended the assembly.
They said that they would settle in Khost, Paktia and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan.
The jirga noted that the Afghan government was better than Pakistan as “it does not allow drone attacks on innocent children and women”.
Addressing the tribesmen, local leaders Maulvi Abdur Rahman, Maulvi Gul Ramzan and peace committee chief Mufti Sadiqullah accused the government of violating peace deals in the region.
However, they asked the local populace not to panic and flee their homes as the government has yet not made a formal announcement of launching a military operation in the region.
The jirga formed a committee that would meet with the political agent to ask him about the veracity of rumours of an imminent military operation.
The committee would also convey to the political agent that local tribesmen were body-searched at check posts even though the situation in the agency was relatively calm.
Meanwhile, political administration officials clamped a day-time curfew in most parts of the agency on Saturday.
The curfew hours will be from 5am to 3pm, according to an official announcement.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 26th, 2012.