October 24, 2007	Wednesday	Shawwal 11, 1428

LANDI KOTAL, Oct 23: The Lashkar-i-Islam, a militant outfit of the Bara tehsil of Khyber Agency, has extended full cooperation to a jirga of Zakhakhel elders for restoring peace in the area.

A jirga comprising elders of all sub-tribes of Zakhakhel met Mangal Bagh, the self-proclaimed amir of Lashkar-i-Islam on Tuesday.

The jirga apprised Mangal Bagh of the decisions of the Zakhakhel jirga held on Sunday, which resolved to prevent the entry of all armed groups into Landi Kotal.

Malik Khalid Khan Afridi, a member of the Zakhakhel delegation, told Dawn that Mangal Bagh and his associates assured them of their full cooperation for the maintenance of law

and order in the Landi Kotal tehsil.

The jirga members made it clear to the Lashkar amir that no armed patrolling of the area would be tolerated, but guests would be allowed, he said.