MIRAMSHAH: A jirga of Utmanzai tribal elders, maliks and community leaders held in Miramshah on Friday vowed to strengthen cooperation between local communities and state institutions and explore measures to ensure lasting peace in North Waziristan amid the prevailing security situation.

Senior military officials, representatives of the district administration and tribal elders from across the region attended the gathering.

Addressing the jirga, General Officer Commanding Maj-Gen Adil Iftikhar welcomed the participants and praised the role played by tribal elders in maintaining peace and stability in the district.

He acknowledged the sacrifices made by the people of North Waziristan during the years of militancy and conflict, saying that the support of tribal communities had remained crucial to efforts to restore normalcy in the region.

Elders demand educational, economic opportunities for youth

The participants discussed the overall security environment, challenges facing local communities and ways to enhance coordination between residents and state institutions. The meeting also reviewed ongoing efforts to preserve peace and address emerging security concerns.

According to participants, Gen Iftikhar highlighted the importance of vigilance against militant activities and stressed the need for timely sharing of information regarding suspicious activities. He underlined that public cooperation remained essential for preventing incidents that could undermine peace and stability.

The military official also expressed concern over what he described as the misuse of mosques by militants for spreading extremist narratives and facilitating anti-state activities. He further referred to the presence of Afghan militants operating across the border and warned that their activities posed a continuing challenge to regional security.

The jirga was informed about attempts by militant groups to target communication infrastructure and other public facilities, which, officials said, were aimed at disrupting daily life and creating difficulties for residents.

The participants were urged to remain alert and promptly report any such incidents to the relevant authorities.

Tribal elders reiterated their commitment to supporting initiatives to maintain peace and prevent a return to instability in the district.

Several speakers emphasised that the people of North Waziristan desired sustainable peace, economic development and improved public services. They said that local communities had suffered greatly during years of conflict and were determined to safeguard the hard-earned stability achieved in recent years.

The elders also underscored the importance of providing educational and economic opportunities to young people, arguing that constructive engagement of the youth was vital for long-term peace and social progress in the region.

The participants reaffirmed their resolve to continue cooperating with state institutions in efforts to maintain security and counter militant threats.

Special prayers were offered for the country’s security, prosperity and lasting peace.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2026