 Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Safdar Hussain continued meeting an 80-member jirga (tribal delegation) from South Waziristan Agency on Wednesday to restore trust between tribesmen and the army. He announced the release of all tribesmen belonging to Shakai Valley arrested for their involvement in militancy and for harbouring foreign terrorists.
| No doubt they're promised on the Koran to be good little tribesmen and never, ever do it again... |
An Inter-Services Public Relations statement said that in recognition of the tribesmen's support and cooperation, the military had decided to release tribesmen from Shakai Valley before Eidul Azha (January 21). Edda Khan and Dawar Khan, who were prime suspects for harbouring foreign terrorists in Shakai Valley, were among the men to be set free. Compensation for the victims of the Mandata operation was also announced during the meeting. "With the active cooperation of all tribes, terrorism has been eradicated and peace has returned to South Waziristan Agency," Lt Gen Safdar told the delegation led by Senator Malik Faridullah Khan. |