This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6559365.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Tribe seeks Pakistan army return Tribe in Pakistan security plea
(about 1 hour later)
One of the main tribes in Pakistan's tense border region with Afghanistan has urged Islamabad to resume control of law and order in the area.One of the main tribes in Pakistan's tense border region with Afghanistan has urged Islamabad to resume control of law and order in the area.
The call from the Ahmadzai Wazirs in South Waziristan came after weeks of fighting with mostly Uzbek militants.The call from the Ahmadzai Wazirs in South Waziristan came after weeks of fighting with mostly Uzbek militants.
Pakistan ceded control of security to pro-Taleban militants in the area after a controversial 2004 peace deal.Pakistan ceded control of security to pro-Taleban militants in the area after a controversial 2004 peace deal.
Critics said it gave Taleban and al-Qaeda militants a safe haven from which to launch attacks in Afghanistan.Critics said it gave Taleban and al-Qaeda militants a safe haven from which to launch attacks in Afghanistan.
Pakistan's government maintains that most insurgent attacks in Afghanistan are carried out by militants based in that country.Pakistan's government maintains that most insurgent attacks in Afghanistan are carried out by militants based in that country.
FinesFines
President Musharraf sent troops into the lawless tribal area to hunt foreign militants and secure the border after backing the US-led "war on terror" in 2001.President Musharraf sent troops into the lawless tribal area to hunt foreign militants and secure the border after backing the US-led "war on terror" in 2001.
Tribals - who is killing who? Tribals - who is killing who?
More than 700 Pakistani security personnel have been killed in fighting in the area since 2002, prompting the government to negotiate the contentious peace deals.More than 700 Pakistani security personnel have been killed in fighting in the area since 2002, prompting the government to negotiate the contentious peace deals.
Under the agreements, troops were to maintain a reduced presence and tribesmen promised either not to harbour foreign fighters or to ensure they did not engage in militancy.Under the agreements, troops were to maintain a reduced presence and tribesmen promised either not to harbour foreign fighters or to ensure they did not engage in militancy.
But at a meeting on Sunday, the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe reversed the deal and undertook not to shelter Uzbek militants and their supporters, most of them signatories of the 2004 deal.But at a meeting on Sunday, the Ahmadzai Wazir tribe reversed the deal and undertook not to shelter Uzbek militants and their supporters, most of them signatories of the 2004 deal.
The meeting also announced heavy fines and banishment from the area for those found to be supporting the Uzbeks, engaging in criminal activity or blocking development projects initiated by the government.The meeting also announced heavy fines and banishment from the area for those found to be supporting the Uzbeks, engaging in criminal activity or blocking development projects initiated by the government.
The government has not yet responded to the tribesmen's appeal, but admitted publicly last week that troops were backing local Pashtuns against the Uzbeks.The government has not yet responded to the tribesmen's appeal, but admitted publicly last week that troops were backing local Pashtuns against the Uzbeks.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Karachi says the tribe dominates the western parts of the South Waziristan agency, and controls lucrative border trade routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The tribe dominates the western parts of the South Waziristan agency, and controls lucrative border trade routes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Recent fighting between members of the tribe and Uzbeks is complicated by the fact that some members of a clan within the tribe have fought with the foreigners, our correspondent says. The BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Karachi says recent fighting between members of the tribe and the Uzbeks is complicated by the fact that some members of a powerful sub-tribe within the Ahmadzai Wazirs have fought with the foreigners.
Our correspondent says this makes it difficult for the civil administration to make a comeback in the area.
The previous system - where the government's writ was implemented by a political agent through a locally-raised tribal police force and the paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) - was undermined when troops were first sent in and then pulled out, creating an administrative vaccuum, he says.
Army roleArmy role
Sunday's meeting followed a month-long armed campaign, led by a local Taleban commander Mullah Nazir who is from the tribe, to evict the Central Asian militants and their supporters from the region.Sunday's meeting followed a month-long armed campaign, led by a local Taleban commander Mullah Nazir who is from the tribe, to evict the Central Asian militants and their supporters from the region.
Militants have de facto control of swathes of the tribal areasMilitants have de facto control of swathes of the tribal areas
On Thursday, President Musharraf admitted publicly for the first time that the army had helped tribal fighters battling foreign militants near the town of Wana, in South Waziristan.On Thursday, President Musharraf admitted publicly for the first time that the army had helped tribal fighters battling foreign militants near the town of Wana, in South Waziristan.
The army had until then denied any role in the fighting, saying locals had risen up to drive out foreigners, among them al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters.The army had until then denied any role in the fighting, saying locals had risen up to drive out foreigners, among them al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters.
President Musharraf said about 300 foreign militants had been killed in several weeks of clashes. Local sources put the figure much lower, at fewer than 100.President Musharraf said about 300 foreign militants had been killed in several weeks of clashes. Local sources put the figure much lower, at fewer than 100.
The authorities say fighting broke out after tribesmen accused Uzbek militants of criminal behaviour.The authorities say fighting broke out after tribesmen accused Uzbek militants of criminal behaviour.
But BBC correspondents say the military may want to highlight the uprising against the Uzbeks because it is under pressure from the West to move against foreign fighters in the tribal areas.But BBC correspondents say the military may want to highlight the uprising against the Uzbeks because it is under pressure from the West to move against foreign fighters in the tribal areas.
1. Apparently, the entire Ahmadzai Wazir tribe has agreed to punish those sheltering Uzbeks, but the fact remains that a most powerful sub-tribe, Zalikhel, remains divided, a fact which makes it rather difficult for the civil administration to make a comeback. 2. The 5-point agreement has one clause under which a peace committee has been established. It is headed by Taleban commander Mullah Nazir. Three of its four members are also Taleban commanders. This means there are no signs that traditional tribal "elders", as designated by the government, have been restored and empowered. Power in Wana still remains with the Taleban, not the elders who form a crucial link in tribal administration. It is complex, but the bottomline is that there are many a slip before the tribal administration can be fully rehabilitated in Wana and assume control of law and order. For that to happen, the tribal elders need to be restored first.