KHAR: Security forces and the Bajaur political administration agreed on Wednesday to postpone a planned military operation in border areas of Mamond tehsil in Bajaur tribal agency after tribal elders from Mamond announced formation of a grand quami lashkar (militia) to combat militants and prevent cross-border attacks.

The accord was reached at a meeting between a delegation of tribal elders from Mamond led by National Assembly member Haji Bismillah Khan and Fata chapter’s chief of Jamaat-i-Islami Sahibzada Haroon Rasheed and senior security officials, including northern sector commander Brigadier Ghulam Haider, and members of the local administration, including Bajaur Agency’s Political Agent Syed Abdul Jabar Shah.

The meeting discussed the over­all security situation in the agency and expressed concern over growing cross-border attacks.

Haji Bismillah and Sahibzada Haroon said that peace-loving people of Mamond had always rendered sacrifices for the country. They claimed that Mamond was the only tribe in the region which always fought against militants. Tribal leaders said the operation would cast a negative impact.

After the tribal elders’ assurances, the security officials and members of the local administration agreed to postpone the operation.

Published in Dawn, July 17th , 2014