| India-Pakistan | |
| Khyber Agency theological discussion leaves 9 dead | |
| 2006-08-16 | |
 KHYBER AGENCY: At least six people were killed and one injured in a clash between two religious groups in the Khyber Agency. Death toll from the clashes has reached nine.
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| India-Pakistan |
| Lashkar Islami accuses PA, MNA of supporting outlaws |
| 2006-08-16 |
 PESHAWAR: Mangal Bagh Afridi, head of the Lashkar Islami, on Tuesday accused the political agent of the Khyber Agency and National Assembly Member (MNA) Maulana Khalilur Rehman of providing weapons to his opponents, the Ansarul Islam, another religious group, and appealed to the federal government to restrain such activities. Afridi warned that such steps by the administration and the MNA would instigate clashes between different tribes of the agency and others could also attempt to acquire heavy weapons for their defence.Talking to Daily Times, he accused Rehman and Dr Tashfeen, political agent of the Khyber Agency, of disturbing law and order in the agency and asked the federal government and the NWFP governor to investigate. If the allegations are proved, they should be given exemplary punishments, Afridi said, adding that Waziristan had been ruined by such people. He said Lashkar Islami had never opted for conflict with the security forces in the Agency and expected the same from the administration. He said his organisation was engaged in clashes with a group of criminals and that the group had used mortar shells available to the government security agencies. He said his organisation had ample proof in this regard. The Lashkar had observed Independence Day as a black day, Afridi said, adding that it was not because of a lack of love for the country but because of the high headedness of the political administration, which was refusing to release their apprehended men on Independence Day. |
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| India-Pakistan |
| Afridi threatens violence beyond borders |
| 2006-07-20 |
| Lashkar Islami chief Mangal Bagh Afridi, late on Tuesday threatened to incite violent protests, possibly even seeking the help of Afghanistan, unless the Khyber Agency political administration dropped demands for his surrender. Afridi broadcast the comments on his FM radio station, saying: It has now become difficult for us to remain peaceful. He was responding to Mondays demands by Khyber Agency Political Agent Dr Tashfeen that the Zakhakhel tribe handover Afridi within one week, or else face punitive measures, including the suspension of government incentives. Dr Tashfeen had also warned that Bara bazaar would again face closure unless the activities of Lashkar Islami were curtailed. Afridi, however, remained defiant, saying: I assure you that unlike Waziristan, our armed struggle would go beyond the frontiers of the tribal territory. He also warned that the agencys elected parliamentarians would be the first to pay the price for not standing up to the excesses of the authorities. If you cannot make a government servant (political agent) abide by the constitution and (yet) have accepted him as the ruler of the agency, then you (parliamentarians) have no right to represent us in the assembly. Political authorities were swift to respond to Afridis warning, dispatching paramilitary forces on Wednesday to guard the residence of Maulana Khalil Rehman, the Khyber Agencys representative in the National Assembly. Rehman said that Lashkar Islamis drift towards violence would do nothing to resolve the situation. He noted that the group wanted him to pursue their agenda, something he said was not feasible since he represented the entire area. My moderate attitudes towards the conflict (has) made them hostile to me, he claimed. He also advised the authorities not to enforce the closure of places of business, since this would punish ordinary tribesmen, not Afridi. |
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