NWFP Governor Lieutenant General Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah (Retd) has highly appreciated the co-operation extended by the Mehsud tribe, particularly the Jalalkhel sub-tribe, in dealing with the issue of Chinese engineers and has thanked the elders as well as the entire tribe in this regard.
The Jalalkhel tribe, he added, has practically proved its love for Pakistan.
He was addressing a grand jirga of Mehsuds here on Sunday during a brief visit to the town where he also met the delegation of Jalalkhel elders and members of 21-member peace committee. Secretary Fata Security Brigadier Mahmood Shah (Retd) and Political Agent Asmatullah Gandapur were also present on the occasion.
The governor explained the government's stance about the issue of foreign elements, saying, "we are ready to offer every valuable sacrifice but would not allow the terrorism to prosper."
He said: "We have been repeatedly warning the tribesmen of South Waziristan Agency that the foreign elements had taken refuge in their areas, which needed to be purged out. These foreigners, he added, have no concern with Islam or Muslims. He said the abduction of Chinese engineers by these people have proved our apprehensions.
The governor said that China has always remained a time-tested friend of Pakistan and has been constantly helping in the development of our country. "These people, by abducting our Chinese brothers who were here to help in the development of the area, tried to disturb the brotherly relations between the two countries."
Reiterating the government's firm resolve against the terrorists, the governor said, "we cannot allow a state within the state." He said all the available means, including use of force, would be applied to root out the menace and the people involved in it.
The governor urged the Mehsuds to form vigilance committees on village and area basis to keep a constant watch over their surroundings and keep their area free of these foreign terrorists.