QUETTA, July 19: General Officer Commanding, Quetta, Maj-Gen Alam Khattak, said on Tuesday that there was no plan to launch an operation in the border areas of Balochistan. All the border areas in Balochistan are peaceful and there is no need for an operation, he told journalists after a jirga attended by Pukhtun tribal elders of the province.

“We have achieved a stable environment in these areas,” he said in reply to a question.

In reply to a question about Afghanistan’s allegation regarding presence of Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and Taliban leader Mullah Omar in the border areas, he said the two countries had a long border and there were some places where people could cross into both the countries but Pakistan had taken strict security measure.

“There is no sign which proves presence of miscreants in the border areas,” he said.

He said there was no plan to set up more checkpoints in the border areas.

He said the tribal sardars and elders who participated in the jirga were very influential in their areas and they could help the government in any situation. He said that they had given assurance to the government in this regard.

The elders announced at the jirga that they would not allow any terrorist or subversive activities in the border areas of the province.

They said they would cooperate with the army in curbing such activities.

The GOC and other senior army officers also attended the jirga.

Speaking at the jirga, Maj-Gen Khattak urged the elders to resolve tribal conflicts, shun their petty differences and unite against terrorism.

He said the government was making all possible efforts to help the tribes resolve their disputes for creating a conducive atmosphere for speedy development in the province. He said development needed peace and order, which was possible when every person fulfilled his responsibilities.

“Tribal elders should understand their responsibilities in view of the Afghan situation and make efforts to fulfil these,” he said.

He said the situation in Afghanistan was deteriorating and during this course different kinds of people could cross into Pakistan so the tribal elders should keep a vigilant eye in the border areas.

He said the long and open border with Afghanistan could be protected with the cooperation of local tribes.

“Keep your people away from the situation developing across the border,” he said, adding that tribal elders could play a vital role in this regard.

He said the government was providing funds to solve problems being faced by Pukhtuns in Balochistan.

The tribal elders, including Akhundzada Sardar Mohammad Ali, Nawabzada Aurangzeb Jogezai, Habibullah Khan Achakzai and Abdul Samad Achakzai, assured the army of their cooperation against terrorism and said they would not allow anyone to use their territory for such activities.

They said the Pukhtuns did not believe in politics of terrorism and extremism and they would fight against it with full force.

They asked the government to take steps to solve the problems being faced by Pukhtun tribesmen in their areas.