ANP to resists any foreign aggression: Asfandyar

27 Jul, 2007

Awami National Party would strongly resist any foreign aggression against Fata or whichever part of Pukhtun's soil, said Asfandyar Wali Khan, central chief ANP in a brief chat with media at Bacha Khan Markaz on Thursday.
"We would stand in front of any aggression to protect Pukhtuns and Pakistan's territory because we think that innocent Pukhtuns would be the target of indiscriminate use of military force," Asfandyar said this while reacting to the US treats of striking inside Pakistan to target Taliban and al Qaeda remittents.
Military strikes, the ANP chief said causes collateral damage, which instead suppressing the militancy instigate reaction among the tribesmen therefore those thinking of eliminating the militants with merely using power, could not succeed in their plans.
"We know that every action would be responded with similar reaction hence use of force could not help to root out militancy or extremism," Mr Asfandyar Wali observed. He, however, said that US would not use the option of attacking inside Pakistan saying that the US Ambassador had clarified they had no such plans of striking in Fata.
About possible backlash of scrapping the peace accord in North Waziristan, the ANP chief said that representative Jirga of tribal leaders from all seven agencies could solve the issue to bring peace in to the troubled parts of Waziristan. However this needs a political will without which, no attempt could be succeed to solve the problem.
To a question, the ANP chief said that both sides had violated the peace agreement in North Waziristan therefore both should be held responsible for it but avoiding true leadership of tribesmen in the peace Jirga could be the main reason that the agreement had failed.
ANP chief said it was high time for national reconciliation otherwise situation would be worsening with rise of extremism in the country." Taliban could also be engaged in negotiation provided if they are ready to struggle under law of the land because negotiation and Jirga could solve every quandary," he remarked while replying to a query.
About growing militancy in tribal belt and some parts of NWFP, the nationalist leader said that political parties should play their role to check it otherwise a vacuum would be created which will be filled by militants.
"Political Parties would have to draw a clear cut line to separate themselves of those wanting warfare in the region, the democratic force have to decide weather they would rule the country or warlord be ruling them, " he added.

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