October 25, 2008	Saturday	Shawwal 25, 1429

LANDI KOTAL, Oct 24: People from a cross section of the tribal society here have welcomed the 14-point resolution passed during the in-camera joint sitting of the parliament, which stipulates a gradual withdrawal of army from the Fata and holding of talks with militants willing to lay down arms.

Lauding the government’s ‘resolve’ to bring back peace in the restive tribal region, former MNA from the Khyber Agency Mulana Khalil-ur-Rehman hoped that the Taliban would respond positively to the government offer of negotiations and army pullout.

He called upon the government to show honesty in fulfilling its commitments while ending the ongoing bloody conflict in the Fata and certain regions of the frontier province.

A former bureaucrat from North Waziristan Sang-e-Mar Jan Khan emphasised the need of reestablishing government’s writ in the tribal areas.

He also stressed upon the need of strengthening the existing Khasadar and levies force by recruiting more tribesmen as these forces would be handed over the responsibility to look after the law and order situation after the withdrawal of the army from the tribal areas.

Chairman Zwan Pakhtun Gowand Ikramullah Jan Kukikhel said that the unanimous resolution of the joint sitting of the parliament fulfilled the long-standing demand of the tribal people regarding the resolution of all conflicts by their traditional jirgas.

He said that every tribesman was supportive of the government’s ‘resolve’ to bring back peace the in Fata through peaceful means.

A tribal elder Zar Noor Afridi said that the tribesmen had always demanded dialogue with militant organisations instead of using force against them. He said that the tribal elders were ready to offer their services for a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict between the government and various militant outfits.

Mr Afridi, however, called upon the PPP-led coalition government to adopt a clear-cut policy against terrorism and demanded that it should cut off its ties with the United States while dealing with the militants in the tribal areas.

He said that the tribesmen were capable of defending the country’s western borders and demanded immediate withdrawal of the army instead of its gradual pullout.

He said that army presence and military operations against militants had caused great damage to the tribal society instead of eliminating the militancy.

General secretary Tribal Union of Journalists Aurang Zeb Afridi suggested a complete ceasefire between army and militants both in the Fata and in Swat before the start of negotiations and army pullout.