UPPER DIR, Oct 31: A grand peace jirga of Upper Dir district offered on Wednesday its services to the government for holding talks with militant cleric Maulana Fazlullah to peacefully end the Swat conflict.

It also expressed resolve to maintain law and order in the district after concerns were expressed at various levels about chances of militants sneaking into the district and disturbing the peaceful atmosphere.

The jirga held a session at the district council hall of Dir on Wednesday and discussed the Swat situation and its implications for Upper Dir.

The 130-member jirga, comprising leaders of political parties, ulema, Maliks, elders and people from various walks of life, voiced concern over the conflict in Swat and stressed the need for talks to defuse the situation.

“If the government feels it needs the help of local people to defuse tension and to restore peace, we are ready to play a role,” the jirga said.

Addressing the jirga, district nazim Sahibzada Tariqullah, PPP provincial general secretary Najmuddin Khan, former provincial health minister Inayatullah, former MNA and JI district Amir Maulana Asadullah, JUI-F leader Maulana Gul Ahmad and others expressed sorrow over the deaths of Muslims on both sides, and urged the government to halt its operation.

They also pledged to maintain peace in the Upper Dir and not to allow militants to enter the district and destroy peace.