May 18, 2007	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 01, 1428

KHAR, May 17: Chief of the local Taliban Maulana Faqir Mohammad on Thursday announced his allegiance to the government of Pakistan before a tribal jirga and promised to cooperate with the tribal administration in restoring peace in the Bajaur tribal agency.

Head of the Mamond tribal coordination jirga, Malik Abdul Aziz, told a press conference that they met Maulana Faqir, a leader of the banned Tehrik-i-Nifaz Shariat-i-Muhammadi (TNSM), and held detailed discussions with him regarding the security situation in the agency and the charges against him of being involved in anti-state activities.

Maulana Faqir had twice escaped bombardment in Bajaur in January and October 2006. This was the first direct contact between local Taliban and tribesmen here after the signing of a peace deal between the government and tribesmen in March last.

“Maulana Faqir dispelled the impression that he is against the Pakistani government and reiterated that he is a patriotic citizen and had rendered valuable sacrifices for the defence and safety of the country in the past,” Malik Aziz said.

He quoted Maulana Faqir as saying that they would not allow anyone to destabilise the atmosphere here. Maulana Faqir, he said, had promised that they would safeguard the border of Pakistan with Afghanistan.

He said that the situation had improved after the signing of the government-tribesmen peace deal.

The administration hailed the commitment made by Maulana Faqir and expressed the hope that it would improve the law and order situation in the agency.

“We hope that Maulana Faqir would stand by his words and help in defusing tension in the agency,” said Shakeel Qadir Khan, the political agent of the Bajaur tribal agency.