Federal Interior Minister, Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has termed the decision of militants announcing one month cease-fire in the tribal area of North Waziristan a positive step.
In an interview with a private TV Channel, he recalled that President Musharraf during his Peshawar visit had announced a grand jirga, which is being constituted. He said that the jirga would discuss the issue and bring its result to the government.
Sherpao said, "As far as their conditions are concerned, we don't have any link with them because it is unilateral decision. We want that the jirga be constituted and the government will abide by its decisions."
To a question the Interior Minister said that the jirga would place some pre-requisites and "We will abide by those things but as far as the foreign element is concerned we will not accept that any cost. We will not bear cross border terrorism or movements as well."
The minister said that some credible people would be included in jirga, including religious people and the jirga would talk to other side. He said that the jirga would be formed in a few days, saying that the governor is working on the issue.
To a query Aftab Sherpao said that there in no operation going on but it is just a selective operation to find out foreign elements hiding there. He cleared that if someone attacks law-enforcing agencies, then a retaliation action is taken. Full fledge action has never been carried out there, he clarified.