TIMERGARA, Sept 19: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti said here on Monday that Afghan government should stop militants from cross border attacks otherwise Pakistan would not hesitate to go to any extent.

He was addressing a function at Balambat where he also distributed cheques among the heirs of 39 persons, killed in Samar Bagh blast. At least 45 people had been killed and 100 injured in the suicide bombing on Sept 15 at Beero village in Samar Bagh.

Provincial ministers Rahimdad Khan, Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Mian Iftikhar Hussain, Hidayatullah and Mahmood Zeb Khan, local lawmakers, ANP provincial president Afrasiab Khattak, Senator Zahid Khan, notables of the area and relatives of deceased attended the function.

The chief minister said that their fight against terrorists would continue and they would never bow before them. He said that government, army and citizens successfully defeated militants in Swat, Dir and Bajaur.

“Some of their leaders have taken shelter in Afghanistan and they are attacking Pakistani posts and people like robbers at night,” he said. He also praised people of Dir for rendering sacrifices in the ongoing war against terrorism.

Mr Hoti said that government would extend all out help and cooperation to peace committees because a war could not be won without public support. He said that people of the region were forced to leave their homes and take shelter in tents.

The government, he said, was aware of the hardships of people and would never leave them alone. He vowed to fulfil demands and needs of peace committees, formed by people against militants.

The chief minister alleged that terrorists were aided by secret agencies of other countries. “They are playing in the hands of others,” he said.

Mr Hoti asked all political parties to get united against terrorists. “Any party cannot fight this war alone so all political parties and powers should get united in this regard,” he added.

He said that restoration of peace was top priority of the government. “I wanted to set up a university in Dir but militancy proved a major hurdle in its way,” he said.

Rahimdad Khan also addressed the gathering.

Earlier, the chief minister along with ministers visited the hujra of slain ANP leader Mohammad Sher Khan in Bandai Maidan and offered Fateha for him.

Sher Khan had been killed in a roadside bomb blast in Maidan on Sept 13. Mr Hoti expressed grief on the killing of Sher Khan and said that he was a brave leader.

Security remained on red alert during the visit of chief minister and all roads leading to Balambat were closed to all types of vehicular traffic, causing difficulties to local people. Even girl students were not allowed to pass through the area, eyewitnesses said.