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Ahmedzai Wazirs scramble to keep their areas safe

* Taliban digging tunnels in mountains, mining routes likely to be used by army

By Iqbal Khattak

PESHAWAR: Ahmedzai Wazir tribes are making last-ditch efforts in a bid to keep a military offensive against Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan off their areas, amid shelling in the region, as the Taliban dig tunnels in mountains for protection against bombing, said elders and locals on Tuesday.

“We have been shuttling between the Taliban and the government for three days to reach some sort of an understanding to keep the Taliban from joining Baitullah,” the elders told Daily Times over the telephone from Wana, after talks with the political administration.

The Wazir elders claimed top Taliban leaders had accepted their request to ”remain disengaged with Baitullah” in case the military moved against him, but only if the government met certain demands.

”We cannot say what these demands are,” the elders replied when asked for details. ”What we can tell you is that the military is unwilling to accept the Taliban demands.”

The Wazir elders met top Taliban leaders at an undiclsoed location on Tuesday, to discuss ways to keep Wazir areas safe.

Meanwhile, Taliban loyal to Baitullah are preparing for the military offensive by digging tunnels in mountains and mining routes the army could use.

Meanwhile, the security forces continued pounding Taliban positions from Jandola Manzai, Sarwakai and Chaghmalai forts.

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