KHAR: The elders and members of peace committees of Mamond tribe in Bajaur Agency on Sunday expressed concern over the fresh cross border attack and asked the Afghan government to hand them over the militants who were responsible for aggression in the region.

The demand was made by elders of peace committees of various areas of Mamond tribe during a jirga here on Sunday, a day after militants from across the border attacked a security forces’ vehicle near Ghakhai pass, leaving three security personnel dead and two others wounded.

Participants of the jirga expressed deep concern over the fresh attack in the border area of Mamond tehsil.

They said that such aggression by militants inside Pakistani territory would not be tolerated in future as such attacks were a clear violation of the country’s sovereignty.

Says cross border attacks not to be tolerated

They elders called upon the government of Afghanistan to take concrete steps for stopping infiltration of militants from its eastern Kunar province into Pakistani territory. They also asked them to turn over Pakistani militants living in Afghanistan.

They said that handing over of the militants to the tribesmen would effectively end the attacks in Pak-Afghan border areas.

They asked the Afghan government to take concrete steps for eliminating terrorist shelters and not allow its territory to be used against the tribesmen of the area.

The elders said that the Afghan government should immediately flush out militants from their area, as they were responsible for criminal activities inside Bajaur Agency.

They also asked the people of Kunar province to play their role in stopping cross border attacks in Bajaur Agency, as such activities were against the basic principles of good neighbourly relations between the people of both the sides.

The jirga assured the security forces of their full support. The elders decided that volunteers of village defence committee would expand patrolling in the border areas.

TRIBESMEN HELD: The political administration of Bajaur Agency on Sunday arrested 60 local tribesmen during a search operation in different areas of Mamond tehisl following an attack on security force’s vehicle on Saturday in which three personnel were killed.

An official said that the administration with the help of Bajaur Levies conducted a search operation in Ghakhai, Nakhtar, Kitkoot, Tarkho and other areas of Mamond tehsil.

He said that the tribesmen were arrested under the collective responsibility clause of Frontier Crimes Regulation.

Meanwhile, the tribal elders of Mamond tehsil have condemned the administration for arresting innocent tribesmen and demanded their immediate release.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2014