A local tribe in Pakistan's South Waziristan province has created its own army to stop terrorists from infiltrating the tribal areas, local reports said Friday. A subgroup of the Mehsud tribe Thursday agreed to extend full assistance to the Pakistani government in hunting down foreign terrorists in the area, the Pakistani Daily Times reported. Three elders of the sub-tribe, Behlol Zai Mehsud, Malik Haji Mohammad and Sardar Hayran, said at an assembly of elders that anyone found providing shelter to terrorists or criminals would be fined $8,500 and banished from the area. They also announced that the houses of the accused would be razed. The elders agreed to set up an 80-member committee under the leadership of 12 elders to deal with the government and discuss future cooperation. Militants are believed to be hiding among the tribal peoples in the region, including Abdullah Mesud, the mastermind behind the abduction of two Chinese engineers last month. © Copyright 2004 by United Press International

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