CHARSADDA, Aug 18: Awami National Party president Senator Asfandyar Wali Khan has said that the Pukhtuns would defend their land against any aggression. Speaking at a public gathering here on Saturday, he said that if the Pukhtuns did not get united at this critical juncture of the history, they would be wiped out. “We have to make right and sensible decisions to steer the country out of the 1971-like situation,” he said.

The ANP had initiated talks with the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party of Mahmood Khan Achakzai to work out a joint strategy to save Pukhtuns, he said.

A number of political workers announced joining the ANP on the occasion. Prominent among them were Yaqub Khan and Haji Mohammad Hashim Khan.

Mr Asfandyar said the joint Pakistan-Afghanistan jirga held in Kabul was successful as it brought together almost all stakeholders to work out a strategy to eliminate terror threat from the region.

He criticised MMA leaders Qazi Hussain Ahmad and Maulana Fazlur Rehman for not attending the jirga, saying their absence proved that they were not sincere in restoring peace in the region.