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In a jolt to militants, elders of the Mehsud tribe on Wednesday said they would hand over 378 men, including Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, wanted by the authorities and back the government's efforts to restore peace in South Waziristan.
As a January 20 deadline set by the government to respond to its demands ended on Wednesday, the decision to hand over the wanted men was made at a 'jirga' or council of the Mehsud tribe which is linked to Hakimullah.
A large number of Taliban militants belong to this tribe. The jirga also decided to accept seven conditions set by the government for ensuring peace and maintaining public order in South Waziristan, described by the United States and its allies as a safe haven for Taliban and Al Qaeda elements.
The government had earlier set January 20 as the deadline for the Mehsud tribe to respond to its seven conditions. The army claims it has killed over 650 Taliban fighters since operations were launched in South Waziristan in October last year.
However, most of the top Taliban leadership continue to be at large and observers said it was unlikely that the tribal elders would be able to deliver on the pledge to hand over Hakimullah Mehsud to the authorities.
The jirga held in Tank district in northwest Pakistan was attended by over 300 elders of the Mehsud tribe. The elders also agreed not to display heavy and automatic weapons in South Waziristan and to accept the writ of the government.
They also agreed not to provide shelter to foreigners in their area. During their address at the jirga, the tribal elders said they did not want to fight against the Pakistan Army.
They said the army was their own force as it has sufficient representation of the tribal people. The elders expressed satisfaction over the allocation of Rs 1 billion by the federal government for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of people affected by the military operations in South Waziristan.
They sought more funds for the region, saying it had been ignored by successive governments.
The jirga also decided to continue talks with the administration to ensure peace and to hold another council of the Mehsud tribe on February 10.
Image: Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud