NWFP governor Owais Ahmad Ghani Sunday said the government has decided to carry out operation against militants in the tribal areas. Addressing a press conference here at the Frontier House, the governor announced the launching of operation against disbanded Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) led by Baitullah Mehsud.
He said, "Pakistan Army and other law enforcing agencies have been directed to crush the militants through a full-fledged and comprehensive plan in order to protect innocent and peaceful people from the clutches of TTP". The Governor said the miscreants were following a foreign agenda, adding Baitullah Mehsud created TTP and then extended its tentacles to Fata and other parts of the country to achieve its nefarious designs.
He said according to tribal tradition and law of the land, Mehsud tribes have the collective responsibility not to give safe sanctuary to the terrorists. However, they failed to fulfil their obligations and supported these elements, he added.
"Taliban actions do not match their words. The government has no agreement with Baitullah Mehsud and Taliban. The government only retaliated when its writ was challenged," Owais Ghani added. He said Baitullah Mehsud is the root cause of the militancy and regretted that Taliban paid no heed to the peace pacts.
Baitullah Mehsud was also involved in killing of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto and hundreds of innocent Pakistanis in a number of suicide and terrorist attacks across the country. The NWFP governor said the terrorists were getting explosives and weapons from Afghanistan. He said the terrorists were spending about Rs 4 billion a year to get rations, salaries, communication and transport and weapons. The governor said main strength of terrorists has been broken in Swat. He said as many as 1.9 million people were displaced from Malakand Division due to operation.
He informed the first group of IDPs comprising 100 trucks have returned to Kalam. Soon the remaining IDPs would return to their native areas. The government is restoring the electricity and utility services in Swat and Malakand. Terrorists want to destabilise Pakistan a nuclear Islamic country. He said media played key role in exposing terrorists face.
Replying to a question, the governor said that no political or religious party was supporting Taliban. No agreements were signed with TTP, he added. Replying to another query, he said that there was no foreign pressure to launch operation adding that the it was started to flush out militants and ensure peace and stability in the areas.
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