18 October 2004	Monday	03 Ramazan 1425

PESHAWAR, Oct 17: NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah on Sunday appreciated the cooperation extended by the Mehsud tribe, particularly the Jalalkhel sub-tribe, in dealing with the issue of kidnapping of Chinese engineers.

He was addressing a grand jirga of Dray Mehsud during a visit to Tank city, where he also met teams comprising Jalalkhel elders and members of a 21-member peace committee.

Secretary Fata (security) Brigadier Mahmood Shah and Political Agent of the South Waziristan Agency Asmatullah Gandapur were also present on the occasion.

The governor explained the government's stance about the issue of foreign elements and said: "We are ready to render sacrifices, but would not allow terrorism to prosper."

He said the government had warned the tribesmen of South Waziristan on various occasions that foreign elements had taken refuge in their area that needed to be purged out. These foreigners, he added, were not associated with any cause of Islam or Muslims.

The governor said the kidnapping of Chinese engineers by these people had proved the apprehensions about them. He said that China had always remained a trusted friend of Pakistan and had been constantly helping in the development of the country and its national defence.