Afghan "US spy" shot dead in Pakistan's Waziristan

PESHAWAR, Pakistan, Sep 28 (Reuters) Unidentified gunmen shot dead an Afghan man in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region, and left a note on the body saying he was an American spy, officials said today.

''He was shot in the head and chest,'' Fida Mohammad Khan, North Waziristan's deputy administrator, said. He identified the dead man as Malang Jan, an Afghan refugee.

The body was found in the mountains near Mir Ali, an area where pro-Taliban tribesmen and al Qaeda fighters had been active until tribal elders called for a ceasefire with Pakistani security forces three months ago.

Critics say the resulting peace treaty signed on September. 5 with tribal leaders ran the risk of creating a safe haven for militants, so long as they don't cause trouble in North Waziristan or cross into Afghanistan directly from there.

A claim by Mullah Dadullah, a commander of the Taliban insurgency in southern Afghanistan, that he had encouraged Waziristan militant tribesmen to sign the deal in order to focus on fighting in Afghanistan reinforced those concerns.

While the note on Jan's body warned others against working for the Americans there was no claim of responsibility, though pro-Taliban militants have been blamed for similar attacks.

Gunmen have killed tribal elders, administrators, journalists, and clerics suspected of being sympathetic with the government, though some of those killed have also been accused of being American spies.

A handful of such killings have been reported since the pact was signed three weeks ago.

Developments in North Waziristan are being closely monitored by the United States, Afghanistan and NATO members, Britain, Canada and the Netherlands, especially after the September. 5 deal that has resulted in the army taking a much lower profile.

Pakistan has about 30,000 troops in North and South Waziristan, and has lost 375 soldiers and militiamen in fighting in the two tribal agencies since early 2004.

REUTERS SP PM1632