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Pakistani tribesmen oppose military operation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Islamabad, May 16, IRNA -- Tribal elders in Pakistan’s North Waziristan tribal region Saturday opposed military operation in their area and said any offensive will disturb peace.

The appeal came as top U.S. military leaders are mounting pressure on Pakistan to launch operation in North Waziristan, still the stronghold of Taliban militants.

Taliban in North Waziristan, bordering Afghanistan, had signed a peace deal with the government in 2008 and both sides are still holding the agreement.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Friday that Pakistan will make decision as to when and where start operation and that no dictation will be accepted.

Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervaiz Kayani has also hinted on two occasions that the army may not conduct any major operation in 2010.

Hafiz Gul Bahadar is leading his own faction of Taliban in North Waziristan region and his fighters did not join Hakimullah Mehsood’s fighters when the army launched major operation in South Wazirustan in October last year.

“There is complete peace in North Waziristan and tribesmen are honoring peace agreement,” tribal elders told a news conference at Miranshah, center of North Waziristan.

Elders from main Utmanzai tribe criticized U.S. military leaders for their call to launch military operation in North Waziristan, and said, “We will frustrate the conspiracies of the Americans and inimical forces”.

Officials believe that militants have fled South Waziristan tribal region after the military operation and have arrived in North Waziristan to plan attacks on Pakistani forces.

Leader of the tribal elders Maulvi Gul Ramzan said the government writ is established in the area and ‘foreign forces are hatching conspiracies of bloodshed’ in North Waziristan. They invited the government and military officials to visit any place in the region if they have any doubts about the activities of the suspects.

Tribal elders said that some conspirators distribute leaflets to create misunderstanding between the army and the people of North Waziristan. “We will soon expose these elements,” they said.

**1771

End News / IRNA / News Code 1117916