June 07, 2006	Wednesday	Jumadi-ul-Awwal 10, 1427

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RAWALPINDI, June 6: Pakistan and the United States have agreed to strengthen the role of Maliks in tribal areas to control Talibanisation of the region, it is learnt. Official sources said the government was worried over the elimination of the effective role Maliks used to play in the tribal region. It observed that increase in militants’ activities had undermined the role of political agents and led to spread of Talibanisation.

At a recent meeting, the Pakistan-US joint working group decided to take ‘effective steps’ to control the activities of militants.

The meeting was informed that Pakistan had taken measures to restore law and order in the area and launched a number of development projects there.

The group noted that though Afghan refugee camps had been closed in Pakistan, the Afghans had not left the country and they were involved in criminal activities. About 2.6 million refugees are still living in Pakistan despite the fact that international aid has stopped.

The meeting was informed that the government had already asked Afghans and foreign militants to leave North and South Waziristan.

The sources said that Pakistan had deployed 80,000 troops along its border with Afghanistan and whenever there was information about presence of Al Qaeda militants, effective action was taken against them.

It was suggested that interaction between officials of the two the sides would be helpful to curb cross-border terrorism and trafficking.

The US representatives said at the meeting that their country was willing to invest in Fata development projects.