September 23, 2007	Sunday	Ramazan 10, 1428

PESHAWAR, Sept 22: NWFP Governor Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai has hinted that the government will withdraw additional troops from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata), saying that the decision has been taken in view of national interests.

Mr Aurakzai told a group of journalists here at the Governor’s House on Saturday that he did not rule out India’s involvement in the current turmoil in the tribal region where militants had intensified attacks on security forces.

“The government has credible evidence which proved Indian involvement in the area,” he said, adding that New Delhi had opened 19 consulates and offices in Afghan provinces adjacent to the Pakistan border.

He said that being a frontline state in the war against terrorism, Pakistan would keep army troops along western borders and a proposal was under consideration to remove additional forces from the tribal region.

“We will take decisions to safeguard our national interest. We do not care if anybody likes it or not,” Mr Aurakzai said.

When asked about the release of remaining kidnapped soldiers in the South Waziristan Agency, he said that talks were under way with the militants through the tribal elders and sufficient progress had been made in this regard.

He said that militants kidnapped the soldiers when a convoy carrying food ration was proceeding towards the Laddah area on August 30.

He said that due to the Sara Rogha peace agreement with the militants, security forces were relaxed and did not expect such a move.

“Certainly, security forces showed carelessness at that time,” Mr Aurakzai said, when asked that how it was possible for the militants to kidnap such a large number of soldiers.

He dispelled the impression that the government was losing writ in the tribal areas and said that it had two options whether to use force against the militants or find out a solution through negotiations.

“Best the option is to solve the issue in accordance with the tribal customs and traditions,” Mr Aurakzai said, adding that the government had already used sufficient force in the area.

He also denied that the militants gained strength in the North Waziristan Agency after peace deal signed with the government in September 2006. He said that due to the agreement, peace was restored in the area and banks and schools were reopened.

When asked what he would do if Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani advised him to dissolve the NWFP Assembly before the upcoming presidential election, Mr Aurakzai said that he would think about it.