Pro-government tribesmen launched 'operations' in March 2007 targeting hideouts of the foreign militants as part of a strategy to drive them out of Waziristan. The first round of violence began on March 6 when approximately 19 people, including 12 Uzbek militants, were killed in a clash between the Wazir Zalikhel sub-tribe and foreign militants near Azam Warsak in South Waziristan. The al Qaeda militants, numbering between 500-1000, are now effectively cornered in the hilly terrain, as all roads to the areas where they are holed up are controlled by Maulana Nazir, apro-government Taliban 'commander' (chief of the Taliban Shura for Ahmadzai Wazir-dominated areas of South Waziristan), and his 1,500 supporters. Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao disclosed:"Fifty-four people were killed today [March 30] and two yesterday. They include 45foreigners," adding further, "The fighting is going on... it intensified today after peace talks failed. Tribes are insisting on their demand that these people either surrender or quit thearea." A Maulana Nazir supporter earlier told Associated Press that local tribesmen had killed 35 Uzbeks and lost 10 of their own men.
According to open source information monitored by the South Asia Terrorism Portal, throughout 2005, 285 people, including 92 civilians and 158 terrorists, were killed in Waziristan in 165 incidents. In 2006, the death toll was 590, including 109 civilians, 144 soldiers and 337 terrorists, in 248 incidents. Just in the first three months of year 2007 have seen approximately 288 people, including 37 civilians, eight soldiers and 243 terrorists, killed, an unambiguous indication of the state of play inPakistan's most troubled region. Given Islamabad's understated accounts, the suppression of the Press and erratic reportage, the actual numbers could be much higher.
It is necessary to reiterate that the local Taliban are in effective control of most of Waziristan. The locus of current fighting is in the Azam Warsak, Shin Warsak and Kalusha areas of South Waziristan. Indications are that the violence could escalate since tribal leader Haji Sharif, on March 29, ruled out any negotiations with the foreign militants. Somepro-government tribal commanders have said 'operations' would continue until all foreign militants are'expelled' from Waziristan.
The pro-government tribesmen have, interestingly, targeted only the foreigners--militants from a melange of countries, including Afghanistan, Central Asia and the Arab world. A majority of the foreign militants are reportedly from the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, which is led by Tahir Yuldashev and his local associates, including Noor Islam, Javed Zalikhel and Maulana Abdul Aziz. While not much information is available on the strategic aspects of what appears to be a vigilante campaign, military spokesperson Major General Waheed Arshad claimed,"It's a success of thegovernment tribesmen strategy... the tribesmen are fed up with them because they and their activities adversely affect their lives andbusiness." The military regime believes that a vigilante movement by the local tribesmen could curb cross-border attacks by the militants in Afghanistan. The Pakistanigovernment "is not intervening" in the clashes, an unnamed senior security official toldAFP: "We hope this onslaught against foreign militants will help reduce cross-border activity. The foreigners were involved in this cross-borderactivity... This is a decisive battle for us."
There has not been any respite in the fighting despite the fact that a Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam [Fazlur Rehman faction (JUI-F)]-dominated Jirga (tribal council) had mediated a truce between the two sides on March 22. Niaz Muhammad Qureshi, JUI-F information secretary for South Waziristan, stated after the cease-fire,"We are glad that the two sides conceded to the tribal elders and clerics' plea for silencing their guns in order to solve their issues through peacefulmeans." Militant leaders like Baitullah Mehsud, Sirajuddin Haqqani, son of senior Taliban'commander' Jalaluddin Haqqani, and an unnamed Taliban 'commander' from Afghanistan reportedly reached unnamed locations in South Waziristan to arrive at the deal. Reports indicate that MaulanaNazir, 'commander' of the pro-Taliban militants, was at one point disinclined to a truce. However, the Jirga, in whichgovernment nominees were also present, persuaded him after lengthy discussions.