MORE EVIDENCE THAT THE TRIBAL STRATEGY IS WORKING - FROM PAKISTAN

BBC: Pakistan army joins tribal fight

Militant in South Waziristan Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has admitted publicly for the first time that the army has helped tribal fighters battling foreign militants. He said local Pashtuns had killed about 300 foreign militants in several weeks of clashes near the Afghan border. Local sources put the figure much lower, at fewer than 100.

The army had denied any role in the fighting but now says it is helping locals drive out foreigners, among them al-Qaeda and Taleban fighters. ... President Musharraf was addressing a military conference in the capital, Islamabad. "The people of South Waziristan now have risen against the foreigners," he told those present. They have killed about 300 of them, and they got support from the Pakistan army. They asked for support. We are demanding the same in North Waziristan, and there are indications the same may happen there also," he said. ...

Heavy clashes broke out in South Waziristan on 19 March, sparked by a demand from a tribal leader that Uzbek militants in the area leave or disarm. The tribesmen proclaimed victory earlier this week, saying the foreigners had been driven out of their bunkers. Their claim was backed by the army. President Musharraf said that the latest developments vindicated his policy of signing peace deals with local tribes, despite criticism from Western allies.

THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS HAS BLOGGED ON THIS STRATEGY, EXTENSIVELY, POINTING OUT THAT IT IS WORKING IN ANBAR AND WAZIRISTSAN. (WE WERE NEARLY ALONE IN PREDICTING IT WOULD WORK AND IN CONCLUDING THAT THE WAZIRISTAN ACCORD WAS GOOD.) MORE HERE.

And more here.