Action approved against militants in Bajaur, Khyber districts
During the talks, tribal elders presented three demands, the foremost being the removal of militants from the tribal region.
According to official sources, around 300 terrorists are currently hiding in two areas of Tehsil Mamund in Bajaur, while more than 350 are present in Khyber district.
Tehsil Mamund has a population exceeding 300,000, but over 40,000 residents have fled to safer locations, sources added.
Officials also disclosed that over 80% of the militants in both districts are Afghan nationals.
Malakand Division Commissioner Abid Wazir told Geo News that over 100 government buildings in Khar have been prepared to house displaced families.
“A tent camp will also be established at the Sports Complex in Khar, with all basic facilities provided to the displaced,” he assured.
According to the district administration, curfew was enforced from 11am to 11pm on all main roads connected to the district headquarters, Khar.
In Mamond tehsil, a three-day curfew was imposed in around 27 localities from 11am on August 11 until 11am on August 14.
The residents were asked to conclude all activities by 10:30am and remain indoors during the curfew period.
The authorities warned that any untoward incidents during this time would be the responsibility of those violating the restrictions.
The district administration reported a significant movement of people out of Mamond tehsil over the past several days.
According to The News report published on August 9, security forces had laid out multiple options to the tribal jirgas in Bajaur for negotiations with the khawarij — the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
The first option, as per the security sources, demanded that the terrorists to leave Bajaur, whereas the second option relates to the tribes' evacuation for the operation so that the khawarij can be brought to an end.
Rejecting any government-level talks with the terrorists and their facilitators in Bajaur, the sources had ruled out negotiations until the militants completely submit to the state.
The terrorists, they had said, were using negotiations as a smokescreen to gear up for war and were living among the general population in Bajaur while simultaneously engaging in terrorist and criminal activities.
The development came as the country has witnessed an uptick in terror activities since 2021, especially in KP and Balochistan.
According to a report released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, there were 78 terrorist attacks across the country during June, which resulted in at least 100 deaths.
Among the fatalities were 53 security personnel, 39 civilians, six militants, and two members of local peace committees.
A total of 189 people were injured, including 126 members of the security forces and 63 civilians.
Altogether, the violence and operations led to 175 deaths in June among them, 55 security personnel, 77 militants, 41 civilians, and two peace committee members.
from Latest Pakistan News - SUCH TV https://ift.tt/7u10IAo
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