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Miran Shah, 23 Oct. (AKI/DAWN) - The Dawar tribe in Pakistan's tribal area of North Waziristan has raised an army of volunteers to expel foreign militants from the restive region and eliminate criminals, sources said.
About 300 tribal elders and Muslim religious leaders of Ulema belonging to the Dawar tribe assembled in the regional capital Miran Shah on Monday to work out ways to maintain law and order in the area.
Sources said resentment was growing among tribesmen against foreign militants and their local collaborators after bloody clashes and air strikes in the tribal town of Mir Ali earlier this month. Over 200 militants, security personnel and civilians were killed.
The jirga asked foreigners living in areas of the Dawar tribe to leave the are as soon as possible. However, no deadline was fixed for doing so.
The volunteers have been given the task of eliminating criminals, restoring peace and removing foreigners.
It was decided that it would be the responsibility of each Dawar tribesman to stop providing shelter to foreign militants and to expel them from the area. The armed volunteers would start patrolling the area soon.
The jirga also decided that if someone killed a volunteer, his house would be set on fire and he would be fined one million rupees (over 16,000 US dollars). The family of the accused would also be expelled from the area.
Meanwhile, a vehicle belonging to a military convoy was hit by a roadside bomb near a military checkpost in the tribal area on Monday. One soldier was killed and four others were injured. Sources said that the convoy was going from Bannu to Miran Shah.
When it reached the Qutabkhel area, five kilometres east of Miran Shah, another truck was hit by a roadside bomb. Two soldiers were injured.
Security forces called in the military's Cobra helicopters which fired on the suspected positions of those carrying out the attack.
A paramilitary soldier was also shot dead in an attack on another checkpost on Sunday night.
AKI - Adnkronos international Pakistan: Tribe raises volunteer force to expel foreign militants
About 300 tribal elders and Muslim religious leaders of Ulema belonging to the Dawar tribe assembled in the regional capital Miran Shah on Monday to work out ways to maintain law and order in the area.
Sources said resentment was growing among tribesmen against foreign militants and their local collaborators after bloody clashes and air strikes in the tribal town of Mir Ali earlier this month. Over 200 militants, security personnel and civilians were killed.
The jirga asked foreigners living in areas of the Dawar tribe to leave the are as soon as possible. However, no deadline was fixed for doing so.
The volunteers have been given the task of eliminating criminals, restoring peace and removing foreigners.
It was decided that it would be the responsibility of each Dawar tribesman to stop providing shelter to foreign militants and to expel them from the area. The armed volunteers would start patrolling the area soon.
The jirga also decided that if someone killed a volunteer, his house would be set on fire and he would be fined one million rupees (over 16,000 US dollars). The family of the accused would also be expelled from the area.
Meanwhile, a vehicle belonging to a military convoy was hit by a roadside bomb near a military checkpost in the tribal area on Monday. One soldier was killed and four others were injured. Sources said that the convoy was going from Bannu to Miran Shah.
When it reached the Qutabkhel area, five kilometres east of Miran Shah, another truck was hit by a roadside bomb. Two soldiers were injured.
Security forces called in the military's Cobra helicopters which fired on the suspected positions of those carrying out the attack.
A paramilitary soldier was also shot dead in an attack on another checkpost on Sunday night.
AKI - Adnkronos international Pakistan: Tribe raises volunteer force to expel foreign militants
