December 06, 2008	Saturday	Zilhaj 7, 1429

LANDI KOTAL, Nov 5: A decisive operation will be launched to stem increasing cases of kidnap for ransom, says Political Agent Khyber Agency Capt (retired) Tariq Hayat.

Talking to Dawn on Friday, Mr Hayat claimed to take sting out of such elements, he had a clear-cut plan. “I am going to hit them once and for all. I will shoot, I will kill, I will arrest and I will do everything possible to clear the area of miscreants”, retorted Mr Hayat.

Clearly looking perturbed by the kidnapping of some government officials, he lamented the attitude of such officials who he said were not taking the security escort along which the administration had provided to them.

The Khyber Agency administrator said due to intensity in the army operation against militants in Bajaur, Mohmand, Shabqadar and Darra Adamkhel, a large number of Tahrik-i-Taliban Pakistan activists had taken refuge in the agency.

He alleged that in most of kidnapping cases, the TTP men were involved adding these militants were after high profile people and were abducting them to secure the release of their arrested colleagues. “Abduction for ransom has become one of their main sources of earning”, he said.

He said in keeping with the deteriorating law and order situation in Landi Kotal and Jamrud tehsils, all government functionaries and important personalities had been issued security warning and provided with security escort.

Mr Hayat said despite such precautionary measures, the abducted officials were not adhering to warnings nor were they utilising official facilities. “In the present circumstances, creating security hazards for themselves is stupid”, he added.

In the meantime, two more traders were abducted from Ziarhai Chowk on Friday.

Also on Friday, a convoy of Afghanistan-bound Nato vehicles came under attack from some unidentified gunmen at Charwazgai but no damaged was caused to any vehicle.