LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), June 24: Negotiations between the political administration and a jirga have failed to make any headway in resolving the Bara issue owing to non-cooperation by leaders of Lashkar-i-Islam.

Two days ago, the elders and traders of Bara went to Gogrina village to persuade Lashkar-i-Islam leader Mangal Bagh to abandon his unlawful activities and surrender.

According to sources on Saturday, Mangal Bagh refused to surrender and instead demanded withdrawal of cases against the Lashkar’s activists.

Mangal Bagh agreed to help restore peace to Bara Bazaar but insisted that he would continue running his illegal FM radio station and his armed men would continue to patrol roads.

The Khyber Agency political administration on June 20 had relaxed blockade of the Bara Bazaar and allowed opening the road passing through the bazaar on the condition that Mangal Bagh and his armed men surrender in three days. The administration, however, banned carrying arms.