PESHAWAR/KHAAR, March 9: A major tribe straddling the Pakistan-Afghan border in the Bajaur tribal region on Monday gave an undertaking to the government to end militancy, refuse shelter to foreign militants and respect state authority.

In a related development, militants released five soldiers of the Frontier Corps who were kidnapped in August. The soldiers were handed over to elders in Sewai area.

Mamond, the largest and most strategically placed tribe in Bajaur, signed a 28-point undertaking to surrender key figures of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in Bajaur, lay down arms, disband militant groups and stop militant training camps.

The entire TTP leadership in Bajaur comes from Mamond tribe and its leader Faqir Mohammed, who was deputy to Baitullah Mehsud, survived drone attacks in the past. This seems to be the government’s first major military victory against militants since it launched an operation against Taliban and Al Qaeda affiliates in 2003.

According to the second clause of the undertaking, a copy of which has been made available to Dawn, TTP senior leaders in Bajaur, including deputy chief Maulvi Faqir Mohammad and chief spokesman Maulvi Said Mohammad alias Maulvi Omar, would surrender to the government.

Other TTP office-bearers who are required to be surrendered to the government include key militant commander Jan Wali alias Sheena and commander Aliur Rehman.

The Mamonds, who have been dragging their feet on the government’s demand to surrender militants and end militancy, have decided to switch sides after the capture of two strategic heights in Bajaur by security forces on Feb 23 has turned the tables, forcing the TTP to call a unilateral ceasefire.

“It’s the people’s victory more than a military success,” Maj-Gen Tariq Khan, who led the Operation Sherdil (lion heart) in Bajaur, told DawnNews in an exclusive interview.

He said the remaining small pocket of Chehar Mang in Bajaur would be cleared from militants

over the next couple of days.

“I would like to call it the conclusion of the Operation Sherdil,” Maj-Gen Tariq said.

The undertaking allows Pakistani forces to control a tribal region where even the British had no physical presence. Mamoond was a militant stronghold and had seen drone attacks on the Damadola village to target Al Qaeda leadership.

According to the undertaking, signed by tribal elders and the political administrator at the regional headquarters of Khaar, all militants would lay down arms, get themselves registered with their respective tribes and submit certificates of good conduct.

It said: “All militant groups under any name shall be disbanded. No parallel administration shall be formed and the writ of the state shall be respected.

“No foreigners shall be allowed in the area, nor shall any property be sold or rented out to foreigners. On evidence of the presence of any foreigner in the area, the tribe will be responsible for their banishment and they will be obliged to take action in this regard.”

A ten-member committee, including two representatives from the government, has been formed to monitor and implement the undertaking.

The undertaking further said: “Security forces and government officials will not be targeted and there will be no restrictions on their movement.

“Members of any tribe in Bajaur will not indulge in terrorist activities in Pakistan, including the tribal areas, nor will they facilitate anyone in this regard. They will not allow the use of their territory for any subversive activity nor will they allow anyone to do so.

“Similarly, no local or foreign militant will be allowed to cross the border with Afghanistan.

“There shall be a ban on FM radio stations, the cessation of hostility and propaganda against the state and its institutions, and any violation will carry a penalty of Rs1 million.

“The militants will stop patrolling and collecting illegal taxes. The tribes will not object to setting up of any new checkpost, besides the ones already existing.

“All madressahs will be registered with the government and no new seminary will be set up in Bajaur without government’s approval.

“There will be a complete ban on the display of heavy weapons and all such weapons will be surrendered to the authorities within 30 days.”
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