LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), Oct 15: The Loe Shalman and Kum Shalman elders and councillors on Friday gave an assurance to the political administration that they would not allow anybody to cultivate poppy in their respective areas.

Last year the local administration destroyed the standing poppy crop on wastelands in Shalman area. This year the Khyber Agency administration has launched a contact campaign throughout the Khyber Agency to persuade the area’s residents to refrain from cultivating the banned crop.

The assistant political agent in Landi Kotal, Riaz Masood, warned the Shalman elders that violators of the agreement would be fined and imprisoned for up to seven years. He also announced a number of development schemes for both Loe and Kum Shalman.

BLAST: A powerful explosion destroyed an oil tanker on the Afghan side of the Torkham border on Friday night.

The oil tanker was removed to a nearby dry stream after an explosive device was spotted by Afghan border security guards.

The device went off with a big bang, causing huge fire in the tanker. The flames could also be seen from Pakistan side of the border.

The Afghan border guards took into custody the driver and conductor of the tanker, but released them on Saturday after brief questioning.