PESHAWAR, Aug 28: The Fata Grand Alliance, a socio-political forum of seven tribal agencies, has claimed that the government proposes to pull out troops from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) by December 2008 and has termed the proposal a commendable one.

Speaking at a press conference at the press club here on Tuesday, alliance convener Abdul Karim Mehsud and other office-bearers said tribesmen were loyal to the country and could not think of providing shelter to terrorists.

Col (retd) Amanullah Khan, Nisar Mohmand, Nisar Shinwari and other alliance members were also present.

The alliance leaders said deployment of troops in the region was not a wise move because it had made the situation worse, besides bringing a bad name to the country.

They hoped that announcement of a timeframe by the government for the pullout would restore lasting peace to the area. They said they had always sought an end to the military operation in the area, because a confrontation between the military and the tribesmen could not resolve any issue.

They said if the government moved one step forward for restoration of peace, tribesmen would come forward by 10 steps to welcome it. They said the tribesmen would endorse every peace plan of the government and assist it in restoration of law and order to Fata.

They said that early pullout of troops would have a positive impact on the region and asked the government to review the pullout timetable in the larger interest of the nation. They proposed to the government to establish a new security agency under the name of Fata Peace Force, comprising local tribesmen, so that lasting peace could be restored to the entire belt. They urged the government to give importance to tribal customs and traditions if it wanted to run administrative affairs peacefully in the area.

They appealed to the United Nations to facilitate an early withdrawal of non-Muslim troops from Afghanistan because it was essential for ensuring lasting peace in Asia. They proposed a greater role for the Organisation of Islamic Countries and said non-Muslim troops in Afghanistan should be replaced with Muslims. They said militant organisations should be brought to the negotiation table, instead of using force against them.