30 January 2005	Sunday	19 Zilhaj 1425

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PESHAWAR, Jan 29: Corps Commander, Peshawar, Lt-Gen Safdar Hussain, has said that political process and military action have been going on in tandem in South Waziristan, adding that the strategy has produced encouraging results.

Talking to the elders of Thal and Kurram and Aurakzai Agencies at the inauguration ceremony of the Army Public School and College at Hangu on Saturday, he said: "The reconciliation and political process does not mean (that) there will be any let up in the government's resolve on the war against terrorism. It has been our utmost endeavour to solve the issue through peaceful means and force will only be used once political process fails to achieve desired results."

The corps commander said that security forces were ready to strike whenever they got credible intelligence about miscreants in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

He pointed out that due to successful military operations all known hideouts and dens in Waziristan had been busted and a large number of terrorists had been killed or apprehended. This, he said, had brought the situation in Waziristan to near normalcy.

Referring to development works undertaken by the army in the region, he said these projects would help generate economic activities in tribal areas. He said the army would start construction of four channels along the Afghan border which would provide gateway to the Central Asian states.

Later, the corps commander inaugurated the Army Public School and College.

General Safdar asked tribesmen to provide their children with best opportunities of education and added that Pakistan Army had given priority to the education sector in its development plan of tribal areas.

The college is equipped with latest facilities and classes will commence from April. Some 900 students appeared in the entrance test for various classes.

The corps commander also visited the Thal garrison where he was briefed about the development works under way in Orakzai and Kurram Agencies and Thal. He also visited the Army Public School and College at Thal.