Peshawar, June 17 Caught between heavy shelling by the Pak air force against Baitullah Mehsud in South Waziristan and retaliatory efforts by the Taliban fighters, Ahmedzai Wazir tribes have begun negotiating with both the sides to keep their areas safe.

"We have been shuttling between the Taliban and the government for three days to reach some sort of an understanding to keep the Taliban from joining Baitullah," the Daily Times quoted WANA based tribal elders, as saying.

According to the Wazir elders, top Taliban leaders of other factions have accepted their request to "remain disengaged with Baitullah" in case the military moved against him, but only on certain conditions.

"We cannot say what these demands are. What we can tell you is that the military is unwilling to accept the Taliban demands," the said.

To discuss ways to keep the military offensive away from their areas, Wazir elders met top Taliban leaders at an undisclosed location on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Taliban loyal to Baitullah are preparing for the military offensive by digging tunnels in mountains and mining routes the army could use.

The security forces, meanwhile, continued pounding Taliban positions from Jandola Manzai, Sarwakai and Chaghmalai forts. (ANI)