PESHAWAR, Aug 28: The deployment of Pakistan troops in the country’s tribal areas is meant to “prevent any illegal movement on the Pakistan-Afghan border.”

This was stated by NWFP Governor Iftikhar Hussain Shah, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-General Muhammad Ali Jan Aurakzai and other officials during series of briefings in Peshawar to Islamabad-based foreign journalists.

The governor briefed newsmen on the security and development activities conducted by Pakistan troops in Mohmand Agency along the Pakistan-Afghan border.

The governor said that reports regarding the Taliban or Al-Qaeda members taking refuge in tribal areas were totally baseless as Pakistan would never allow any illegal element to enter its territory.

In another briefing, Corps Commander Lt-General Muhammad Ali Jan Aurakzai said 25,000 Pakistani troops were operating in the tribal areas.

When asked about border issue between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Corps Commander said that Pakistan troops had not entered or occupied any Afghan territory.

“The confusion over a few hundred meters along the Pakistan-Afghan border will be resolved through the tripartite commission,” he added.

Later, foreign journalists visited the Mohmand Agency on Pakistan-Afghan border, where area commander briefed them on the security and development activities.

He said in two months, over 8,000 people were treated in free medical camps. Several schools had also been established to provide free education to children, he said.

The commander also said a 108-kilometre road connecting various areas of the agency, was also under constriction.

He also gave details about water projects, which would help 400,000 population of the Agency get drinking water.—PPI