Major crisis brewing in Pak tribal belt

Tribesmen in the region have been angered by a dispute over royalty rights for natural gas extracted from the area, and by government plans to set up a new military garrison.

They also are enraged by the rape of a female doctor in the area, allegedly by members of the military, and by what they say is the government's failure to arrest the suspects.

Nawaz said his Frontier Corps troops have the power to fight off the tribesmen but are hoping to avoid such a confrontation.

"We will use force only as a last resort," he said. "We have the capability to remove them but we are exercising full restraint so the situation does not get messed up."

The fighting broke out Thursday after tribesmen allegedly attacked a convoy of paramilitary troops in mountains near Dera Bugti.

As many as 60 people, including eight soldiers, reportedly died in the attack and subsequent clashes. Seventeen minority Hindus were reportedly among the dead. They were killed when their temple was hit by rockets during gunbattles between the tribal fighters and the troops.

Nawaz said he had no figure on the number of casualties, but acknowledged that civilians may have died.

Thousands of government officials, their families and women and children of local tribesmen have fled Dera Bugti, fearing fresh fighting in the town. But the troops and tribesmen have been sticking to a cease-fire since Friday.