The Apex Committee of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and FATA Saturday expressed complete satisfaction over progress of last phase of operation in Shawal and ongoing intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the province. The Apex Committee, which met here, also reviewed resettlement and return of temporarily displaced persons (TDPs) and border management at Torkham.
KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and Chief Minister Parvez Khattak, Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) General Raheel Sharif, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar, Peshawar Corps Commander and senior provincial and FATA Secretariat officers attended the meeting, said an ISPR press release issued here. Paying rich tributes to the resilience and courage of proud tribesmen, the CoAS said," With unflinching resolve and courage, our proud tribesmen of Fata (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) and people of KP stood up to atrocities of terrorists, pushed them back and marginalized them in society, which deserves the highest of accolade."
He reiterated his commitment to tribal brethren to rebuild the area and revive entire socio-economic infrastructure. The CoAS appreciated harmony among all the stakeholders as well as organisations involved and directed them to expedite the pace of work and ensure its best quality. The committee also discussed border management at all crossing points, especially at Torkham. It decided to enforce border crossing mechanism in true letter and spirit. It also discussed the issue of extortion calls being made to people of Peshawar from the Pak-Afghan border region. The forum decided to shut down illegal communication towers inside the Pakistani territory. A high level delegation would soon visit Kabul to engage with Afghan authorities to seek co-operation for resolution of the issue.
The KP Governor and Chief Minister appreciated the wholehearted support of Pakistan Army and reiterated the resolve of FATA and the provincial government to rid the province of terrorism and extremism and pave way for development and well-being of the people.