LANDI KOTAL: The Frontier Corps officials in Khyber Agency continued to take measures to build confidence of local elders, traders and tribal youth under special directives of Inspector General Frontier Corps by holding a series of meetings and discussions on peace and security in the region.

Security officials have so far met with selected groups of tribal elders, traders and youth while local leadership of various political parties has been kept away from such meetings held in Landi Kotal, Bara and Warsak during the last week.

Sources privy to these meeting told Dawn that no specific agenda of the meetings was conveyed to them in advance but two important issues pertaining to merger of Fata with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and rise of a Pakhtun youth movement were discussed.

Hold several meetings with elders, traders and youth during last week

Security officials in these meetings informed the participants about the successof various military operations in different parts of tribal areas and the cost at which peace was restored in the region while the internally displaced persons were able to return to their homes.

Tribal youth were advised to stay away from those elements, who were trying to create hatred against the state institutions and undermine the success achieved in the military operations at the expense of valuable sacrifices rendered by the security forces.

“We are repeatedly told that the people of tribal areas should not cultivate any relationship with the people, who are trying to make misunderstanding between the tribal people and state institutions, especially security establishment,” said sources.

They said that the participants of almost all meetings were reminded by security officials that tribal people would foil all such attempts and would work hand in hand with state institutions to counter the anti-state agenda.

Iftar dinners were also served at the conclusion of these meetings, which most of the elders said had never happened before with such regularity and urgency.

The pro-administration elders in response lauded the services of security forces in restoring peace and purging the region of undesirable elements.

They, however, expressed reservations over holding of such meetings at a time and asking for their cooperation when their

role had almost diminished with the total repeal of Frontier Crimes Regulation and extension of regular laws of the country to tribal areas.

Sources that both the security officials and political administration were not happy with the tribal elders vocal disapproval of the passage of 31st Amendment through which Fata was merged with KP.

They said that at least two tribal elders were called by the security officials in Bara and political agent and were advised in polite manner to stop their anti-merger campaign both in the media and during official meetings.

Two such meetings were held with elders of Shalman in Landi Kotal and elders of Bara in Ghaibee Neeka on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2018