LANDIKOTAL: Officials of Khyber Agency said that they were in contact with the Afghan government to help release the road construction workers abducted three days ago from Naray valley of Loi Shalman area in Landikotal tehsil in Khyber Agency.
This was said by Swat Scouts commandant Colonel Naeemullah and political agent of Khyber Agency Sayed Shahab Ali Shah while speaking to a combined Jirga of Kam Shalman, Loey Shalman and Mulagri elders held in Jamrud on Tuesday.
Col. Naeemullah said they have received information about the existence and movement of militants in Mulagori and Shalman areas. He said militants coming from Afghanistan use Shalman and Mulagori routes and attack the government and civilian installations.
“It is not possible that militants directly come from Afghanistan and kill innocent people in Pakistan but militants are being helped by the local facilitators”, said Col. Naeemullah and added that local residents commit such crime for some pennies. He said those who put hindrance in developmental projects in Khyber Agency were their enemies. The military official said they will not spare a single militant and would complete all the small and mega projects in Fata.
Col. Naeem urged the Mulagori and Shalmani elders to help the government and the security forces as it was not possible to defeat terrorism without the local residents’ cooperation and coordination.
Regarding the abduction of road construction workers from Landikotal, Col Naeem said that around 35 gunmen had came from Afghanistan and they abducted three persons from Loey Shalman on gunpoint.
PA Khyber, Shahab Ali said in his speech that it was the utmost responsibility of local elders and privileged class to support the government against war against terrorism. Shahab said peace has been restored in Bara and Jamrud subdivisions after military operations were launched. He said eighty five thousands displaced families have been returned to their home towns in Bara and soon they would send the rest of the IDPs.
Urging for close watch on the suspected persons PA Khyber said there were reports of terror plots in coming days. He said the government has prepared a security policy which would be implemented soon in Khyber Agency.
Shahab gave a week time to the Mulagori and Shalmani elders to hold their separate Jirgas so that residents could be united against militants.
The Khyber Agecy political agent said that no one would be allowed to preach Jihad to sabotage peace in the area.
Local elders Haji Manan Mulagori, Fauzee Khan,Sher Haidar Shalmani and retired Subedar Sabz Ali also addressed the Jirga. They said that local residents especially elders and Mashran have rendered sacrifices but they did not bow down before the false powers. Manan said all the local tribes elders had already inked an agreement through which all kinds of outlaws and criminals were banned on their soil. He said the security forces should also respect their sacrifices and not force them to vacate their homes and migrate to other countries.
