Nato missiles hit tribesmen

On the third day of the operation, main bazaars and several shopping centers were reopened at Bara town and traffic also resumed on several roads. Common tribesmen who were made hostages by leaders and gun-totting stalwarts of the rival religious groups are jubilating the operation against the rival religious groups in the area, which besides Lashkar Islam of Mangal Bagh and Amar Bil Maroof of Haji Namdar also included Lashkar Ansar of Haji Mehboob.

Agencies add: At least three missiles struck the headquarters of Amar Bil Maroof Wa Nahi Aneelmunkar (Movement for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice) at Bara in Khyber Agency, where Pakistani security forces launched a crackdown on militants on Saturday.

The missiles apparently targeted Haji Namdar, the head of the religious group, but he was safe, eyewitnesses told the TV channels.

The witnesses said six to nine persons had died and several of Namdar’s close relatives were among the dead.

Haji Namdar and a security official said the house was destroyed by military action but the government said troops were not involved. The witnesses said they had seen drones flying overhead when the missile strike occurred at about 3am.

TV channels aired footage of the two-storey brick structure that was almost completely destroyed by the missile strike. The footage showed rescue workers digging through the debris to remove bodies.

An AFP photographer saw six coffins lined up outside the rubble of the house of Namdar accused of attacking convoys supplying US and NATO troops.

“It looked like a guided missile strike. It could have been the work of both Pakistani and NATO forces. We will take revenge,” Namdar told AFP at the scene in the Par Qambarkhel area, about 20 miles from the Afghan border.

But a senior security official told AFP earlier that the destruction of the house “was part of the ongoing operation. Our ground forces were involved.”

Meanwhile, reaffirming continuation of operation till achievement of objective, Ministry of Interior has banned three groups active in tribal areas for their involvement in criminal activities.

“Lashkar-e-lslam of Mangal Bagh, Ansar-ul-lslam of Mahboob-ul-Haque and Haji Namdar Group have been banned under Anti- Terrorist Act, and notification in this respect has been issued,” the sources at Interior Ministry told this news agency on Monday.

The sources said that operation had the support of local tribes and was going well with sufficient achievements. “The operation is being conducted with full ownership of the civil government and with full support of local tribes, respecting their sensitivities and redressing their insecurity, just to re-establish writ of the government,” the sources added.  “The operation is also progressing well and the basic purpose has been achieved with minimum damage and without any collateral losses,” the sources added, reaffirming continuation of the operation till desired objectives are achieved.

Monitoring Desk adds: Capital City Police Officer Dr Muhammad Suleman Monday expressed satisfaction over the law and order in Peshawar and said operation would be also be launched in some parts of the city, reports a private TV channel.

Nader Buneri from Peshawar adds: In the wake of operation launched in Khyber Agency, security of Peshawar has been beefed up by deploying heavy contingent of Quick Response Forces, Frontier Constabulary and Frontier Police, Chief Capital City Police Dr Suleman told the media here Monday.

Briefing the journalists over the law and order situation of the city at Police Line, he said that the situation is quite normal, however, they have taken foolproof security arrangements in this regard. He said that the efficiency of Police has been improved after conducting successful operation against those criminals who have adopted the garb of Taliban.