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WANA (South Waziristan): Amid an unabated resistance by terrorists in this part of the tribal belt, a course for a dialogue with tribes’ elders could not get matured Sunday and authorities are all set to take the ongoing crusade to it a logical end.

An update from the area says that bodies of six, reported to be aliens have been sent to Rawalpindi for DNA test to get a lead of the type of the hostiles, fighting in Wana and in its’ suburbs.

Dialogue

Credible sources told ‘Pakistan Times’ Sunday that the authorities had accepted a plea for a dialogue with the tribal elders, subject to the condition that they would not give shelter to any terrorist and that all those in their knowledge shall be handed over, as pledged earlier.

The authorities were ready even to cease action in the area during the course of an interaction with the elders, yet ‘since the proposal could not get matured, the action persists.’

House to House Search

A House to House search is being carried out in the area to nab the terrorists. The suspected houses are getting demolished in the action, sources said by adding; ‘the ongoing operation shall remain intact with optimal force, till the real objectives of this course are achieved.’

More Arrests

Yet another report says that 10 more suspected terrorists have been arrested by the authorities. All of them have been shifted from the area for an in-depth probe.

Bodies of six foreign miscreants Recovered

The bodies of six foreign miscreants, believed to be Chechens, were recovered on Sunday by the Paramilitary troops and Pakistan Army carrying out joint anti-terrorist operation in Wana.

Secretary FATA

Secretary FATA (Security) Brigadier (R) Mehmud Shah Said on Sunday that house to house search is continuing in the cordoned off areas in Wana to flush out terrorists, who have taken shelter in the South Waziristan Agency.

The forces are moving ahead from both eastern and western ends to further tighten the noose around the foreign nationals, hiding in the agency. The demolition of houses of the suspected elements is in progress in Shin Warsak and Kalosha areas.

Details

Giving details about the latest information regarding operation, he said, two foreign nationals of Chechen origin were shot dead by the forces on Sunday afternoon. The Secretary FATA received the information about the deaths of the Chechens during briefing. He said, the bodies of the Chechens have
been recovered.

He told that a grand jirga of all the tribal agencies and Frontier Regions comprising 50 to 52 leading tribal figures (5 tribal elders from each agency and two from FRs was engaged in consultation with the embattled tribesmen of Zallikhel Wazir tribe in cordoned areas.

Conditions

He said that the Political Agent of the Agency has put forward three conditions to the Jirga to discuss it with the elders of Zallikhel tribe that included unconditional release of detained tribesmen, arrest of the nominated tribal people of Zallikhel tribe and handing over of the foreign nationals.

The Government will pull them out by force if pointed out by the Zallikhel tribe, he added when asked.

Response Awaited

He said, he has not yet received response of the Zallikhel tribe on these conditions. However, he hinted that some individual members of the jirga informed him that they were asking for a temporary ceasefire so that they could get in the cardon areas.

n reply to a question whether the Government would resort to temporary ceasefire, he said, it depend on their response and on the commitment made by the jirga. He said, Army has been called in support of the FC.

American Gunships

About the firing incident by some American Gunship helicopters, he said, it occurred after four p.m and outside the cordoned areas. The operation was halted at 4.p.m. on Saturday.

In reply to a question, Brig (r) Mehmud Shah said, initially the operation was to be completed in two days but initiation of the political process i.e. Jirga has in fact slow down the operation in the targeted areas. However, he said, to clear the whole areas of the wanted elements, it would take a month to complete.

Demolished Houses

To a question, he said, he was not aware about the exact number of the houses demolished in the operation. No casualty has so far been reported from the Frontier Corps, which is under the command of the Governor NWFP, he told a questioner.

However, about the casualties from the army, he said, he could not deliberate upon it, as DG ISPR is the right person to answer it.

Tough Resistance

He said, Army had to be called in aid of the FC following tough resistance by the embattled tribesmen.

In reply to a question, he said, he could not exactly identify the number of national and foreigners arrested in the operation. They are being sorted out, he elaborated.

To a question, Brigadier Mehmud Shah said, "we were not expecting that much resistance, it was beyond expectation." A limited wing of FC contingent in fact took part on the first day of the operation to flush out the terrorists.

Foreigners

A spokesman of ISPR confirming about the recovery of the bodies said "bodies of six miscreants have been recovered who all are foreigners."

The Pakistani troops have been carrying out operation in west of Wana, South Waziristan Agency. The area is just in the proximity of Pakistan-Afghanistan border comprising difficult hilly terrain.

Giving details about the operation, the spokesman said, in order to clear the area of foreign fighters, search of some of the compounds has commenced. However, he added, the cordon of the area continues to be unaffected.

400 Caged

He said that so far over hundred miscreants have been rounded up during the operation that includes locals and foreigners.

He said the exact number of those miscreants who died during the operation cannot be ascertained till the completion of the operation.

In the meantime, it was learnt that the DNA tests of the recovered bodies would be carried out to ascertain their identity.

Two days Ultimatum

An earlier report said that Wana political administration has issued two days ultimatum to Zili Kheel tribe for release of its members and troops of the Frontier Corps.

In a Jirgha held today between the political administration of Wana and Zili Kheel tribe lasted for two hours, office bearers of the administration asked tribal chiefs of the Zili Kheel tribe to take immediate efforts for release of its members and troops of the Frontier Corps.

They also demanded the tribal lords to dispel those foreign terrorist who have taken refugee in the area and hand over the wanted to the political administration without further ado.

Tribal chiefs of the Zili Kheel tribe demanded firing to be stopped in the area so that they could go in the area, where the terrorirts were hiding to have talks with them.

It was also reached in the Jirga that prominent people belonging to the Zili Kheel tribe would be issued security passes and they would be allowed to go area through their vehicles raising white flags where the military operation was continuing.

Recap

Use of artillery has been closed in Wana headquarter of South Waziristan where military operation against foreign militants in the South Waziristan tribal region goes on, said a report on Saturday.

Level of firing in the region has dropped substantially since the Saturday evening, while the use of artillery in the region has been petered out. The light firing throughout the night was heard from the area.

Helicopters of Pakistan military were patrolling overhead this morning in the area, whilst incidents of shell-firing were also reported from an area near Azam Warsik.

Taliban Threat

Meanwhile, a report from Afghanistan capital Kabul says that the Taliban have threatened to attack US and Pakistani troops if they continue their offensive against fighters in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Arabic television station al-Jazeera broadcast the threat by a man who claimed to be a Taliban spokesman.

Troops have launched an offensive from both sides of the Pakistan Afghanistan border against around 400 fighters who are said to be offering fierce resistance in the mountainous region of Waziristan.

The Afghan army has sent reinforcements to the area.

Some reports suggest that Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's right-hand man, may be among the fighters. But the Taliban say both al-Qaeda leaders are in Afghanistan. At least 30,000 inhabitants of the mountainous region have fled the fighting.