LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Dec 17: Auhtorities in Khyber Agency on Wednesday scoffed at criticism of violation of rules in selection of Khasadars and said training of the Khasadar force would go ahead as planned despite reservation.

“We have extended all possible assistance to Mahsud Scouts for training of Khasadars. Training will proceed as planned”, Political Agent, Khyber Arbab Mohammad Arif told Dawn.

He said that the 12-week training course would proceed, irrespective of the fact as to who would impart the training to the tribal security force.

“We have the option to acquire services of Khyber Rifles or Swat Scouts for the said purpose if Mahsud Scouts have any reservations regarding our selection criteria”, he said. He asked the Mahsud Scouts to provide them with proper feed back instead of making undue criticism and mocking the training plan.

Arbab Arif dispelled the impression that under-age, medically unfit, uneducated and less resourceful khasadars were detailed for training and stressed that almost every Khasadar of his 2,735 strong force would under go a proposed 12-week training. The training would be imparted in batches because of financial constraints, he said.

He said that necessary funds for training purpose were earmarked by the political administration out of their own resources under the directives of Governor NWFP Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, which he said, would be reimbursed to them by the federal government. Similar, training courses had already started in other tribal agencies.

As far the Mahsud Scouts Maj Waqar apprehension regarding the success of the training course, the Khyber Agency administrative head expressed the hope that it would yield positive results and he would ensure that every single penny allocated for the said purpose is judiciously utilized.