April 08, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-us-Sani 1, 1429

PESHAWAR, April 7: A senior military commander on Monday called for de-escalation and a multi-pronged approach, including talks, to restore peace in the NWFP and adjoining tribal areas.

In what appeared to be a follow-up of a meeting Chief of Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Pervaz Kayani held recently with political leaders in Islamabad, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-Gen Masood Aslam briefed NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti and leaders of the coalition parties on the security situation in the NWFP and tribal areas.

ANP’s provincial president Afrasiab Khattak and PPP’s Parliamentary Leader and provincial president Rahimdad Khan attended the meeting which lasted about three hours.

Frontier Corps Commandant Maj-Gen Mohammad Alam Khattak, chief secretary Sahibzada Riaz Noor and home secretary Tepu Mohabat Khan were also present.

“It was a detailed briefing and there will be more follow-up meetings,” a senior official said, adding that all aspects of the law and order situation were thoroughly discussed.

According to an official statement, the corps commander stressed the need for addressing the root causes of extremism and terrorism in the troubled areas of the NWFP and Fata on a priority basis.

He suggested that talks were the only way to eradicate the militancy, the official statement said.

When asked if the military had planned to call back troops from districts like Swat, the official said: “Ultimately, yes,” but added that a multi-pronged strategy would have to be put in place, including development, de-escalation and payment of compensation to the people.

The official said that some decisions would be taken in the light of Monday’s meeting and proposals were being firmed up in this regard.

Chief Minister Haider Hoti said that the country, particularly the NWFP, was facing serious challenges and it was a critical juncture in the country’s history.

“We have to sit together to find solutions to all problems and sincere efforts will be made in consultations with all political forces, besides reviving the

jirga system in the troubled districts to resolve issues,” Mr Hoti said.

He called for developing consensus on all issues the province was facing, and said that turning a blind eye to serious challenges would cause destruction and anarchy.

“We will shortly launch a comprehensive and broad-based strategy for a durable and lasting peace in the province,” Mr Hoti said.

He said peace jirgas would be constituted at local levels and all political and religious leaders, public representatives and tribal chiefs would be included in these to ensure peace and order in all parts of the province and tribal areas.

He said restoration of peace was the top priority of the ANP-led coalition government.

The chief minister described efforts to achieve consensus among state institutions on all important issues as a positive development and said every challenge could be faced jointly.

ANP’s provincial president Afrasiab Khattak said that talks were the only way to restore peace in all the troubled and insurgency-plagued areas.

“Force is no solution to any problem and we should try to resolve all issues through talks,” Mr Khattak said.