http://www.gulfnews.com/world/Pakistan/10115877.html
Pakistan Published: 04/04/2007 12:00 AM (UAE) Tribesmen beat drums of war to raise army against Al Qaida Reuters Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan: Pakistani tribesmen beat their drums of war for the first time in three years yesterday to raise a force to rid their lands on the Afghan border of foreign Al Qaida-linked militants. Ethnic Pashtun tribesmen in Waziristan have not beaten their traditional "dhol" drums since 2004 because the militants who have been living in their midst disapproved of music, residents said. But the tribes of Waziristan have united to form a lashkar, or army, to fight and expel the foreign militants they had until recently sheltered. "Drums are being beaten in Wana Bazaar to mobilise people for the lashkar. People are dancing, they are in high spirits and very enthusiastic," said Noor Ali, a shopkeeper in Wana, the main town in South Waziristan. Thousands of foreign militants fled to the semi-autonomous tribal lands on the Pakistani side of the border after US-led forces defeated the Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001, and were given refuge. Fighting broke out between the foreigners, most of them believed to be Uzbeks, and tribal fighters last month in South Waziristan after the militants tried to kill a pro-government tribal leader. Government officials say more than 170 people have been killed, most of them Uzbek militants, although residents of the rugged mountains and forest say the toll has been lower. Thousands of Waziri tribal elders, many of whom support the Taliban in Afghanistan, gathered in Wana on Monday and vowed to expel the foreigners and punish any tribesmen helping them. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
