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| May 7, 2006 | Sunday | Rabi-us-Sani 8, 1427 |
‘More forces may be deployed in Bajaur’
PESHAWAR, May 6: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has indicated that deployment of security forces in Bajaur may be enhanced if the situation worsens.
The minister told reporters after meeting Federal Investigation Agency officials at Peshawar airport on Saturday that militants’ attacks had increased after the killing of Al Qaeda leader Abu Marwan Hadid Al Suri in Bajaur last month.
He said the government would deploy more security forces to stem the militancy if the situation deteriorated.
“We are examining the situation and deployment of military or other security forces cannot be ruled out,” Mr Sherpao said in reply to a question.
He said Pakistan was committed to eliminating extremism and terrorists from the country, for which all means and ways would be utilised.
He said that about 600 terrorists had been killed in various actions across the country.
He said the government had chalked out a plan for ensuring peace and flushing out foreign militants from the tribal areas.
Under the strategy, he maintained, the political administration was being strengthened besides resolution of disputes through jirgas.
He said the political agents would be provided force to maintain law and order in their regions.
About the future status of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, which had recently been banned by the US, the minister said China had opposed the decision and put it on technical hold.
He said the government would comply with the decision of the international community in this regard.
Referring to lack of staff in the counter-terrorism wing of the FIA, Mr Sherpao admitted that it was in dire need of upgrading. He said that for capacity building of the Special Investigation Group, the government was working on a plan assisted by the US.
“We will also increase the staff at the SIG and appoint about 200 personnel to improve its working,” he added.
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