August 31, 2003	Sunday	Rajab 2, 1424

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KHAAR, Aug 30: The Pakistan army has taken control of a mountain pass along the Durand Line in Bajaur Agency after the Salarzai tribe gave up its two-week-long resistance to the presence of army in the area.

Sources in the Bajaur Agency headquarters, Khaar, said the armymen hoisted the national flag on a mountain peak at an altitude of about 8,000 feet near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the Salarzai tribe’s area.

Later, the army set up checkpoints at seven places and started formal deployment of troops.

A 3,000-strong contingent of the Bajaur Levies and scouts led by Political Agent Pirzada Khan and Commandant Bajaur Scouts, Col Salimuzzaman, also took control of another pass, Leti Sar.

The Salarzai tribe and the political authorities have been at the loggerheads over the deployment of the Pakistan army troops in the area for the last two weeks. The agency administration had also picked up several people in the area during the period.

The tribal people had demanded incentives and development works in the area in return for allowing the army troops, but the political authorities refused to meet their demands. However, the administration later held talks with the Salarzai tribal elders and accepted some of their demands.

Speaking at a Jirga, the political agent said the government had allocated Rs80 million to establish schools and hospitals and install tubewells in the area. He said the tribesmen would also be given jobs in the levies force.