Wana conflict

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Wana conflict

Part of War on Terror

Date	March 19, 2007 - ongoing
Location	Wana, Islamic Emirate of Waziristan (South Waziristan, Pakistan)
Result	Ongoing (March 23 2007)

Combatants

Wana tribespeople, possibly Pakistani army

Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan and their local supporters

Commanders

Maulvi Nazir

Tohir Yuldeshev

Strength

800-1,200 (est.)

Casualties

At least 38 killed

At least 177 killed and 83 captured (Pakistani claim)

Wana conflict is an armed conflict between militants in Pakistan which begun on March 19, 2007. Reportedly, Jihad was declared by some of the Wana tribespeople against the main force of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) hiding in the area. [1]

1 Causes
2 Conflict
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Causes

Reportedly, the fighting sparked by the killing of Saiful Adil, an al-Qaeda-linked Arab, blamed on the Uzbeks by Maulavi Nazir, described as a top pro-Taliban militant commander in the region.

According to the other version, fighting started after Mullah Nazir, whom the government says has come over to its side, ordered the Uzbek followers of Tahir Yuldashev, formerly a close confidant of Osama bin Laden, to disarm.

It was was also preceded by the clashes between the IMU and a pro-government tribal leader earlier this month in Azam Warsak, in which 17 people died before a ceasefire was announced.

[edit] Conflict

Sirajuddin Haqqani, the son of Taliban leader Jalaluddin Haqqani, tried to stop the fighting but failed. Local Taliban militants allied to the tribesmen were reported attacking and seizing the IMU's private jail in Azam Warsak.

Pakistan Army said did not intend to step in, but witnesses say government artillery fired on the Uzbek bunkers they set up to fight the tribesmen.

Heavy fighting resumed on March 29, ending a week-long ceasefire between tribal fighters and foreign militants. According to initial reports, tribesmen attacked a checkpoint manned by Uzbek militants and captured two of them. The clashes also left one tribal fighter dead and three wounded. The following day, a senior Pakistani official announced that 52 people were killed during the past two days, 45 of them Uzbeks and the rest tribesmen. One of Maulvi Nazir's aides put the death toll at 35 Uzbeks and 10 tribal fighters. However, residents in the area said that the death toll on both sides was inflated.