NWFP Governor Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah on Tuesday has said that elimination of foreign terrorists from Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) is imperative to bring them into economic mainstream.
Some 100 to 150 foreign militants, who are Uzbeks, Chechens, Arabs and some of Chinese origin are still hiding in mountainous areas between North and South Waziristan agencies in small pockets.
He made these remarks while addressing a national seminar on "Tribal areas of Pakistan: Challenges and responses", organised by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).
Iftikhar said that the tribal areas enjoyed an independent status across the dynastic era and tribes continued to administer themselves free of outside influences on their distinct socio-cultural set up.
He said that some of the foreign militants entered into our tribal areas of South Waziristan Agency when coalition forces replaced the Taleban government in Afghanistan.
"In other agencies these incursions were minimal, but a sizeable number of them, between 500 to 600, have settled in mountainous areas between North and South Waziristan agencies," he added.
Iftikhar said that most of them were Uzbeks, Chechens, Arabs and some of them were Chinese, which slowly developed links with Ahmadzai Wazirs of Wana.
The NWFP governor said that about 143 people harbouring/supporting foreign elements were identified in 2003. "We held series of Jirgas and negotiations asking these tribes to hand over the foreigners," he added.
He said that tribes made only half-hearted attempts in handing over some of the individuals fearing that those people would be handed over to foreign governments probably to the US.
Iftikhar also said that an amnesty was also announced in December 2003, but the tribes failed to take advantage of that important political initiative.
By the end of January, it was decided to start military operation as the government was convinced that the problem would not be resolved through political means.
Foreign militants created difficulties for Frontier Corps (FC) and the government called in Army, which over the next 10 days busted a major den in Azam Warsak area.
He said the government made various agreements with tribes, including major Shakai agreement and most of the foreign elements, about 300 to 400, had left the area, adding around 100 to 150 were still in the area in small pockets and were being pursued so that normalcy could return to the area.
Addressing the participants of the seminar, Iftikhar emphasised that the Fata had to be brought into the mainstream of Pakistani society and economy.
After the introduction of adult franchise in the Fata, he said the next step was the incremental introduction of elected local governments.
The NWFP governor informed the gathering that a plan had been prepared for the devolution of power to promote good governance under which the nation building departments at the agency level would be restructured and maximum financial and administrative powers would be devolved to the grassroots level.
To ensure rapid economic development, the government has increased budgetary allocations for Fata from about Rs one billion in 2000-01 to almost Rs six billion for the current financial year. Donor agencies would be contributing an additional amount of Rs 1.78 billion for various projects.
Commenting on the social sector, Iftikhar said the big challenge was the improvement in dismal literacy rate, which was 29 percent for males and only three percent for females, as compared to 56 percent and 33 percent across the country.
Eminent political and defence analysts and of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Shaukat Sultan, and various foreign dignitaries attended the seminar.