AgNoStiC MuSliM
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Daily Times - Leading News Resource of PakistanUzbeks-locals rift: A rift has been developed between the locals and Uzbeks in North Waziristan as the locals believe foreign fighters are responsible for the recent killings of villagers, sources told APP on Monday.
It has also been learnt that the locals are planning to call a jirga to announce a deadline for the foreigners to leave the area. The locals say they will use arms to flush the foreigners out of the area if they fail to meet the deadline, the sources said.
Meanwhile, militants fired rockets at Mera Din Post in North Waziristan late on Sunday. Troops retaliated, but no casualties were reported.
The Ahmad Zai Wazir tribe from South Waziristan and local Taliban who are supporting the government have announced a one-week deadline for those who fled with foreign militants to come back before a jirga or face action.
The deadline was set at a jirga at Rustam Adda in Wana on Monday. Hundred of tribesmen from Ahmadzai tribe and the local Taliban attended the jirga.
Elders of the Ahmadzai tribe said stern action would be taken if the tribesmen who fled did not come before the jirga.
This seems to be following the precedent of South Waziristan, where the locals in conjunction with the Army drove out the foreign militants and their supporters, much to the ire of Baitullah Mehsud.
Excellent development. I do find it interesting that there is a reference to ""Taliban supporting the government" - this would support the analysis that the situation in FATA cannot be neatly classified into Al Qaeda/Taliban vs the authorities, since it seems that the Taliban themselves are not in full agreement on how to carry their agenda forward, with some allying with the GoP and others getting into the AQ war.
Perhaps this development stems from the recent use of the AF, and the severe losses that were inflicted on the militants, including reportedly 50 foreign fighters - thereby bringing about the realization that the PA has been acting with tremendous restraint so far, and can up the ante if need be.
The recent statements from the Afghan Taliban, that talked of negotiating with the GoA, may possibly also be having an effect on all but the most die hard groups.