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| India-Pakistan |
| 'No permanent bases in Tribal Areas' |
| 2007-09-20 |
| The government on Wednesday ruled out the option of setting up permanent military bases in the tribal areas. Some media reports claimed the government was planning to set up permanent military bases in Warsak, Parachinar, Razmak and Samar Bagh. “The government is not contemplating any permanent structures for the army in the tribal areas,” Interior Ministry spokesman Brig (r) Javed Iqbal Cheema told reporters at a weekly briefing. The government was, however, building the capacity of the Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary in the tribal areas as part of a multi-pronged strategy to ensure stability there, he said. Negotiations underway: He said negotiations were underway with tribal people for the release of abducted soldiers in the Mehsud-dominated areas in South Waziristan. “There are encouraging signs the issue will be resolved amicably with the help of tribal elders, and soldiers will be released ... unconditionally at the earliest,” he said. On the recent suicide attack on elite troops in Tarbela, Cheema said investigations indicate the army was targeted. He said investigations were proceeding well, and hoped those responsible for the attack would be apprehended soon. However, “no culprit has been arrested so far,” he added. Cheema told reporters law enforcement agencies had made headway in investigations into other terrorist and suicide attacks, including the recent suicide-bombings in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The spokesman condemned the killing of Maulana Hasan Jan, saying his murder was another grim reminder of the threat militants posed to peace in the country. Cheema also condemned the kidnapping of a local television journalist and promised the matter would be investigated. |
| Posted by:Fred |