Pak fears showdown with pro-Taliban tribals

ISLAMABAD, Nov 10 (UNI) The Pakistan government fears a showdown with tribals of the federally administered tribal areas (FATA), who are up in arms with 15,000 volunteers ready to join the Taliban forces in Afghanistan.

Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Omar ,Mhammad, who is hiding in Afghanistan, has already allowed the FATA leader Sufi Muhammed to enforce "Shariah" and send 15000 actvists in batches to Afghanistan.

The first batch of 1500 volunteers has already crossed over to Afghanistans Ningarhar province, the Friday Times reported.

Although the government tried to pursuade them not to leave, it avoided using force.

The primary reason was to avoid armed clashes with the fundamentalist elements and more violent protests.

The paper claimed that thousands of Pakistanis had entered Afghanistan at Ghaki border point, where they were greeted by Afghan tribals and the Taliban.

"Emotions are running high and these people are using unmarked points to join the Afghan troops," it said.

The intelligence agencies warned the government of more trouble in future if the bombing continued.

The protests are gaining momentum and with the Taliban being intact despite the one month long bombing campaign, religious elements are getting strong.

The paper also said that the recent reshuffle in the army clearly indicated that there was resistence to gen Musharrafs policy and there was a reason to belive that the resistance runs through lower government cadres.