Ethnic Pastun tribesmen were reported to be pounding on war drums for the first time in three years as part of efforts to assemble an 1,800-strong force to battle Al-Qaeda fighters along the Afghan border.
The leader of the tribal journalist union in Pakistan's North Waziristan region, Saylab Mas'ud, told Radio Free Afghanistan by phone today:
"[Tribal militiamen] are beating war drums, and three thousands tribal men have joined the forces under the command of Mullah Nazir and they have begun fighting against Uzbek militants," Saylab Mas'ud, the leader of the tribal journalist union in Pakistan's North Waziristan region, told RFE/RL today.
(with material from agency reports)
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