KARACHI, 28 October 2003 — Authorities in South Waziristan Agency are still negotiating with tribesmen on the possible surrender of nine men accused of sheltering Al-Qaeda activists and other militants.
A tribal Jirga (council of elders) will meet Anwar Ali Shah, deputy administrator of Wana, regional headquarters of South Waziristan Agency, today to discuss the surrender of the nine men, government sources said.
On Oct. 8, the Waziristan administration asked a number of Waziri clans to surrender more than 12 tribesmen for breaching an agreement with Islamabad by harboring “undesirable” elements. The demand followed an army operation in the region on Oct. 2 in which eight Al-Qaeda members were killed and 18 arrested.
The sources said that nine men wanted for sheltering Al-Qaeda activists were still at large.
If the Jirga disapproves their action, an operation against the wanted men will be launched.
Tribesmen have refused to surrender the men as they fear they would be handed over to the United States. The authorities have assured them that they would be interrogated in Pakistan under the country’s laws.
Some other clans like Shudyaki, Sperkey, Malik Shahi and Khojakhel have already handed over five of their 10 wanted tribesmen to the government. The government started arresting several people, impounding their vehicles and closing their businesses after an Oct. 6 deadline to hand over the wanted men expired.
The sources said the federal government had started a number of development projects in the tribal areas after the army operation in the region. Quoting an army officer, the sources said the army was engaged in building roads and schools in remote areas. The tribal people were also participating in the army’s development projects. The army officer also said over 100 posts had been set up along the border with Afghanistan to stop infiltration.
