SUMMARY

The areas of North and South Waziristan in northwestern Pakistan are controlled by local tribes and have substantial autonomy. One of the most powerful tribal leaders in South Waziristan is Maulvi Nazir, head of the Ahmadzai Wazir clan. The clan is based in the western part of South Waziristan, close to the Afghan border.

When IMU (Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan) fled Afghanistan in 2001, they settled in the same area. The Uzbek militants soon grew unpopular as they were involved in organized crime in the region and often used violence against civilians. They were also blamed for the killings of numerous tribal elders in the region.

Tensions between the local tribes and IMU heightened in early March 2007 when IMU tried to assassinate a tribal elder in a village near the city of Wana. The event sparked a clash in which at least 17 people were killed. Two weeks later fighting again flared when IMU allegedly killed an Arab militant commander connected to Nazir. The tribal leaders and Nazir gave IMU an ultimatum; disarm or leave the region. When IMU did not comply, heavy fighting erupted around Wana. Four days later, when over 100 people had been killed, local Taleban leaders managed to negotiate a ceasefire.

However, the truce broke down seven days later, and the fighting intensified once again. The tribesmen stated that they were not interested in negotiations but instead would fight until all Uzbek militants had left the region. Nazir and other leaders in the region called on tribesmen in surrounding villages to join in, and around 5000 people gathered in Wana to enlist for the battles.

IMU was defeated in mid-April 2007 and fled to North Waziristan, where they remain. Prominent Taleban leaders have tried to mediate a peace agreement between the parties but they have not yet succeeded.

The non-state conflict between the Lashkar of Wazir tribe and IMU is first included in UCDP data in 2007. In March that year heavy fighting erupted between the groups near the city of Wana in South Waziristan resulting in over 25 battle-related deaths.