PESHAWAR: Expressing reservation about the launch of military operation in North Waziristan Agency without timeframe, the all-party conference organised by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government here on Saturday warned that the continuation of the offensive for indefinite period would be dangerous.

“Launching military offensive without planning and timeframe was not correct. Its continuation for indefinite period will be dangerous,” said a joint declaration issued after the conference.

Chief Minister Pervez Khattak presided over the event, where leaders of all major political parties, including Jamaat-i-Islami, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl, Awami National Party, Pakistan People’s Party and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, were in attendance.

The conference was convened to discuss the launch of the Zarb-i-Azb military operation in North Waziristan and its impact on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially its law and order situation.

Says offensive launched without planning; KP needs help to prevent brewing humanitarian crisis

The participants unanimously approved the 18-point declaration of the event.

Information minister Shah Farman later announced it during a news conference.

The declaration said, “innocent people should not be targeted in the name of collateral damage in North Waziristan Agency and that the federal government should have convened an APC before launching military offensive.”

According to it, over half a million tribal people have been forced to leave their homes in North Waziristan, who have to take shelter in the settled areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while a large number of them have migrated to Afghanistan.

“Thousands of people are still stuck in the conflict zone. The government should ensure their safety and supply food to them,” it said.

The declaration said the ban on the movement of IDPs in any part or province of the country was unconstitutional and therefore, the provincial governments should not put restriction on displaced persons’ entry into their areas and instead they should help them.

The declaration declared Rs20,000 being provided to every displaced family inadequate and urged the federal government to increase the amount to Rs50,000 per month.

While asking the provincial governments to facilitate the movement of IDPs, it called upon national and foreign donor agencies and philanthropists to help the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa prevent the ‘brewing humanitarian crisis.’

The APC suggested formation of coordination committee comprising representatives of the federal and provincial governments and Fata parliamentarians to oversee relief activities for North Waziristan IDPs.

It said the 1.5 million cattle heads could perish in the affected areas, which could create crisis in livestock sector and therefore, the government should arrange fodder and water for the cattle.

“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has suffered due to terrorism, military operations and natural disasters and therefore, the federal government should declare it a hard area,” it said.

The participants expressed concern over the thousands of tribesmen taking refuge in Afghanistan.

“They may become hostage in the hands of anti- Pakistan elements,” the declaration said, demanded early rehabilitation of the militancy-affected people in other agencies of Fata.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2014