Army not to be deployed in Fata: Other options for peace available: Sherpao
PESHAWAR, March 25: Army has no direct role in the ongoing operation against terrorists in North and South Waziristan agencies and its presence there is aimed at assisting the political administrations and law-enforcing agencies in maintaining of law and order.
This was said by Interior Miniter Aftab Sherpao while talking to APP after inaugurating Frontier Constabulary Foundation School in Shabqadar Fort in the Charsadda area on Friday.
He said no proposal was presently under consideration of the government to depute regular army troops in the tribal areas as the Khasadar Force and Militia were performing duties there in a satisfactory way.
The minister said several measures were on the cards for restoration of lasting peace in the tribal belt, including the formation of local peace committees. The committees would have broad based representation of the local tribal leaders, Ulema, elders and elite belonging to different shades of life, he added.
Mr Sherpao said, “Agency councils are being activated for the purpose as the elected councils have a great role in the tribal system.”
Answering a question, he said the government was determined to purge the tribal areas of foreign elements and would use ‘every’ option to achieve the desired results.
When his attention was drawn to reports about regrouping of Taliban in the tribal areas, he said, “this is propaganda as Taliban have no existence there”.
Foreign elements were responsible for vitiating the peaceful situation in the tribal areas, he said, adding in a recent incident, some terrorists had attacked a check-post jointly manned by the FC and army in Dattakhel area.
Mr Sherpao said the tribal people had always demonstrated loyalty to the country and offered sacrifices for it since independence. He said the government had great regard and respect for the tribal people and the massive development programme currently under way in Fata would usher in a new era of prosperity there.
A development package of billions of rupees was being executed in the tribal areas, he said.
He said modern export processing zones are being set up in Fata where thousands of jobless tribal youths would get employment after establishment of industrial units.
Answering a question, the minister said the government’s measures would bring the hitherto neglected and remote areas of Fata at par with developed parts of the country.
“The reshuffling in the Afghan cabinet is an internal affair of Afghanistan,” he said and expressed the hope that it would help improve relations between the two neighbours.
“Pakistan is a key player in reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan and has contributed $250 million for it,” he added.
