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110 killed as Waziristan clashes enter third day

* Army spokesman denies military firing artillery at Uzbeks

By Iqbal Khattak

PESHAWAR: Clashes between foreign Al Qaeda militants and pro-government tribesmen in South Waziristan have left 110 people dead, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao told Daily Times on Wednesday.

Sherpao said that 84 Uzbek militants and 17 local tribesmen, including nine civilians, had been killed during three days of fighting. Another 83 Uzbeks have been captured by the tribal forces, he said, adding that the government has not intervened in the clashes. However, witnesses in Wana told Daily Times that the army had fired artillery rounds from the Zarinoor base at the Uzbek militants’ positions in Azam Warsak and Sheen Warsak and gunship helicopters were hovering over the area.

“My home is near the military base and I can hear the artillery being fired,” Rasool Wazir, a businessman, told Daily Times by satellite phone. Army spokesman Maj Gen Waheed Arshad said he had no information that artillery was being used against the foreign militants.

Maulvi Nazir is leading the battle against foreign militants for the first time since they crossed over from Afghanistan after the US invasion. Rasool Wazir said the clashes were spreading from Azam Warsak and Kaloosha to areas like Karikot. Uzbek militants are being supported by key commanders of the late Taliban leader Nek Muhammad and they have taken control of a school in Karikot and all schools have been closed for an indefinite period, tribesmen arriving in Tank city from Wana told Daily Times.

Security officials said the clashes began with the killing of Saiful Adil, an Arab fighter whose body was found a few days ago. “Maulvi Nazir supports the Arabs and suspected that the Uzbeks had murdered Adil,” the officials said.

They said that Nazir’s men attacked two private jails operated by Uzbek militants in Azam Warsak early on Wednesday, adding that the tribesmen killed more than 20 Uzbeks and rescued four local prisoners. Residents of Wana arriving in Tank city claimed that they had seen “Punjabi Taliban” fighting alongside Nazir’s men, but their claims could not be confirmed.

Former FATA security chief Brig (r) Mehmood Shah said the government should take advantage of the situation by covertly or overtly supporting the tribesmen. Meanwhile, a jirga led by MMA MNA Maulana Mirajuddin is heading towards Wana to negotiate a ceasefire between the warring factions.

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