Authorities' efforts to win support from border tribes in the hunt for al Qaeda militants made headway on Saturday as three more tribes announced they would deploy hundreds of armed tribesmen in the search.
A spokesman for Ghanikhel, Darkhel and Jaykhel tribes told reporters a "Lashkar" (tribal force) would start operations on Sunday in South Waziristan tribal territory bordering Afghanistan where the military carried out a massive operation last month.
"We are sending a lashkar of hundreds of tribesmen into Azam Warzak area to search for and arrest foreigners and their local protectors," tribal spokesman Malik Khadin said in Wana, the main town of South Waziristan.
"We have suspicions that some foreigners are hiding in certain villages of Azam Warzak."
Leaders of several other tribes have already joined hands with the government in an effort to purge the tribal region of foreign intruders and prevent use of military force by the government.
Meanwhile, in the latest distribution of financial compensation, the authorities on Saturday handed out Rs 500,000 cheques to the families of each of the 13 civilians killed last month.
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