Security forces played a key role in peace restoration: Col, Umar Farooq

Commandant KR briefs tribal journalists over security in Khyber Agency

By Ashrafuddin Pirzada

LANDIKOTAL: Praising the security forces’ decisive role in peace restoration in Pakistan, commandant Khyber Rifles (KR) Colonel Umar Farooq on Wednesday said that poverty and injustice were the two main causes that help militancy to get its deep roots in the ignored society.

While briefing a delegation of Tribal Union of Journalists Khyber Agency chapter journalists over the security situation in Khyber Agency, Col, Umar Farooq said that they have fought organized military operations in Khyber Agency, killing and arrested hundreds of key militants. He said after the sacrifice rendered by the security forces and civilians people peace has been restored in all parts of Khyber Agency. He said they were closely watching the border with Afghanistan to block movement of suspected persons.

Regarding the National Acton Plan, col, Farooq said that they have installed modern equipments including data checking devices and Closed Circuit Television Cameras to minimize security threats from the Afghan side of the border. 

“I believe that militants would not find any safe harbor in Khyber Agency as all their networks and sanctuaries had been dismantled and purged out all kinds of anti-militants from Pakistan”, said col Farooq and added that they were now focusing to help the government to launch mega developmental projects in Fata.

He said the paramilitary forces officials in Khyber Agency have been directed to cooperate with the local residents and promote good relation between the forces and local residents.

“I consider Khyber Agency as my own hometown and I love its people like my real brother and sisters”, Umar reaffirmed.

To a question, commandant Khyber Riles (KR) said those carried out deadliest attacks on Army School,Bacha Khan university and other public places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa  had been entered Pakistan via Torkham border.

Umar Farooq said they will not allow any outsider to enter Pakistan without having valid travel documents, however, he said those tribal people residing alongside the Torkham border would be exempted of Passport and visa condition.

The official asked the local residents and tribal journalists to cooperate with the security forces and law enforcement agencies so that they could maintain peace in the region.

He besides other local residents tribal journalists had suffered of the decade long militancy. He announced that education and health facilities would be provided to the local Journalists’ siblings in all army hospitals and schools.

Col, Umar Farooq said with the financial and technical support of Inspector General of Frontier Corsp(IGFC) they were launching a six-month project of repairing and renovation of historical places in Khyber Agency. He said the project would be started from December 25 and would preserve all historical assets situated in Khyber Agency.

Col, Umar Farooq said they were working on another project to create tourists and picnic spots so that they could re-alive tourism in Fata. 

TUJ Khyber Agency president Qazi Fazlullah thanked the newly appointed Khyber Rifles commandant and said that tribal journalists would help the government to promote peace and development in Khyber Agency.