May 23, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 17, 1429

KOHAT, May 22: In a major breakthrough the hesitant tribal elders from Frontier Region of Kohat on Thursday agreed to negotiate with local Taliban in Darra Adamkhel on behalf of the government for restoring law and order in the area.

The political agent and district coordination officer of Kohat, Kamran Zeb, summoned a jirga at Circuit House in which all the tribal elders of five tribes of Frontier Region were invited.

The jirga members discussed the plan for the security of the Indus Highway passing through Darra Adamkhel and Kohat Tunnel which had become unsafe due to the increasing activities of Taliban and operations carried out almost on daily basis by the security forces.

Mr Zeb told the jirga elders that the law and order situation in Darra Adamkhel had deteriorated to the extent that the people had stopped travelling on Indus Highway. He said that government was trying its level best to eliminate the militants and criminals from the area but the tribesmen had provided them safe haven in Darra Adamkhel.

He asked the tribal elders to cooperate with the government in nabbing the criminals and militants or at least pluck up courage to persuade them to stop their activities in the area by engaging them in talks.

He said that militants had destroyed almost all the big checkposts, dozens of school buildings, killed the people and taken the local people hostage.

He urged them to join hands with the government against militants as it would take the responsibility of protecting their life and property.

The tribal elders while agreeing to constitute a committee for holding talks said that militants had been continuing their activities in the presence of army and tanks so how the tribesmen could stop them.

They said that military operation was not a solution to the problem and suggested the formation of a 10-member committee for holding talks with the militants.

But set the condition that the committee should be allowed to function independently and enjoy complete authority.

The jirga was attended by the assistant political agent, Fida Mohammad Khan, Malik Mian Akbar, Haji

Ameer Khan, Malik Nasrullah and Gul Khan.

The members of the 10-member negotiating committee are Malik Nasrulah of Bostikhel tribe, Pir Mohanmmad and Haji Sadiq of Sheraki, Haji Ameer of Zarghunkhel, Haji Saleem Khan of Ferozekhel, Haji Khayal Akbar of Qasimkhel, Malik Saleem Khan of Mazeedkhel, Malik Hakeem Khan of Tor Chappar, Rasool Khan and Noor Mohammad of Akhorwal tribe.