ISLAMABAD, April 27: Pakistan on Friday said that a total of about 1,400 people have been killed in over 100 military operations in South and North Waziristan Agencies and asked the international community to extend over a billion dollars for development schemes to win hearts and minds of the people against war on terror.
The bilateral and multilateral creditors, however, called for more action to restore peace in the region to allow implementation of $2 billion Fata Sustainable Development Programme for improving the condition of people.
NWFP Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ali Mohammad Jan Aurakzai told the participants of the Pakistan Development Forum here on Friday that Pakistani forces had killed over 600 militants, including foreigners, and handed over to the United States an equal number of persons involved in acts of terrorism.
He said about 700 security personnel had been killed besides more than 100 pro-government Maliks and elders.
For $2 billion Fata Sustainable Development Programme, the government will provide $1 billion through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) while an equal amount it wants to come from donors in financial assistance.
The US has already committed $750 million for Fata development in next five years and was making efforts to arrange another $250 million from other lenders.The project covers improvements in areas of education, health, roads, bridges, industries, tourism, commerce and agriculture over span period of nine years.
Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan said that the tribal areas should be seen in the larger context of war against terror launched in the aftermath of 9/11 scenario.
The socio-economic development of Fata would make a difference and Pakistan was quite determined to change situation on the ground, he added.
He said that Pakistan had proposed to the international community for investing $3-4 billion when Soviet Union left Afghanistan, but it could not be materialized which paved the way for spending billions of dollars for finding military solution after 9/11.
Governor Aurakzai said the next Jirga Commission meeting would be held in Kabul on May 3 and 4 to resolve problems through political dialogue.
He said there was complete peace in North and South Waziristan and there were minor problems in Khyber agency but change was taking place in tribal areas because the people now wanted development and prosperity.
The governor said that realizing the negative outcome of the military campaign, the government at a stage decided to rethink its policy in tribal areas and efforts in this regard culminated in the historic Waziristan Agreement that was followed by such agreements in South Waziristan and Bajaur agencies.
