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Tribal elders from Pakistan's North and South Waziristan Agency have expressed their readiness to fight alongside the armed forces against the militants if they are taken into confidence prior to the likely operation in the North Waziristan Agency (NWA). Elders from different tribes shared complete consensus that there were militant elements, particularly in North Waziristan , who needed to be flushed out, but the military should take them on board prior to any action against them, reports The News. Representatives of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) also met with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, who said: "If you want to win the war against the militants, first disengage yourself from the American war and afterwards hold talks with the tribal people. Without taking these people into confidence, you cannot win the war." He said the militants would manage to win sympathies of locals by posing themselves as Mujahideen, in case the military went into North Waziristan and ignored the local people there. Imran said he strongly believed that once Pakistan announced quitting the U.S.-led war, there would be an end to Jihad and it would also isolate hardcore terrorists from those who genuinely wanted to eschew violence. Imran's PTI plans to take a peace caravan to North Waziristan on September 23 to protest against U.S. drone strikes.

Waziristan tribal leaders pledge support to Pak Army's fight against militants