February 18, 2003	Tuesday	Zul Hijjah 16, 1423

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PESHAWAR, Feb 17: NWFP governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah has categorically denied any direct involvement of the FBI agents in the operation against the fugitives of Al Qaeda who might be hiding in the tribal agencies bordering Afghanistan.

Talking to newsmen here at the Peshawar Press Club where he came to inaugurate the PPC’s extension project 2002 on Monday, he said Pakistan forces were competent enough to deal with any situation on their own. The Federally Administered Tribal Area (Fata) was directly looked after and controlled by the federal government, he added.

The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, he said, was opposed to the FBI’s direct involvement in the occasional siege-and-search operations in Fata, but they never objected to such operations conducted by Pakistan forces. The provincial government had nothing to do with any happening in the Fata, he added.

About the Al Qaeda fugitives, he said those who had counted them they should explain about their strength. “We have no knowledge of their total numbers,” he added.

The deployment of armed forces on the Pakistan-Afghan border had been made to seal this porous belt and stop all sort of infiltration into the province, he explained.

About increasing the troops on border on the US request, he said they had assessed that the present strength was enough to meet any challenge. He denied that the US forces stationed in Afghanistan had sought any further deployment of troops on the western border.

Answering to a question, he denied that there was any need of deploying armed forces in Bajaur and Mohmand agencies. “We don’t need to do so. The troops have been sent to Khwaizai and Bazai tribal areas to undertake the development activities,” he added.

He confirmed the entry of Afghan officials in the tribal belt, but added they came to administer polio drops to children as this hilly enclave was inaccessible for the Pakistan personnel.

Responding to a query, the governor added that it was federal government’s outlook to lodge any protest with the Afghan government.

Speaking about poppy cultivation, the governor said this time the growers had cultivated a large part of the Fata, but “we have destroyed standing crop in every part of the agencies and made it clear up all of them that they would be not allowed to continue with illicit business.”

Earlier, speaking to newsmen after the inauguration of the project, he said the newsmen enjoyed the status of eyes and ears in society and their role very much contributed not only in public opinion building, but also in the decision-making process at every level.

The club president Jan Afzal welcomed the governor.