‘Well considered strategy’: FATA development a priority for army, says COAS

Gen Raheel inaugurates key section of Central Trade Corridor in South Waziristan.

ISLAMABAD: Army chief General Raheel Sharif said on Sunday that the development of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) was a priority task being undertaken by the army as a ‘well considered strategy’.

“The Pakistan Army has undertaken 178 projects so far in the social, communication infrastructure and power sectors in Fata and Malakand areas. These projects are aimed at improving the quality of life in the tribal areas and address the problem of militancy on a long-term basis,” Gen Raheel told tribal elders during a visit to South Waziristan Agency.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief inaugurated an important section of the upcoming Central Trade Corridor (CTC) along with the largest bridge on the road in South Waziristan.

The CTC is a strategic road link to facilitate trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and will directly and indirectly help revive the local economy in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

“An international standard, 705-kilometre road network through southern K-P and Fata, the CTC is being built by army engineers and funded by friendly countries,” the statement said.



The army chief also inaugurated the 76km-long Shakai-Makeen road funded by USAID, providing an important lateral along the CTC which connects the Bannu-Miramshah-Ghulam Khan road and the Wana-Angoor Adda road.

Apart from other economic, security and strategic advantages, the newly constructed roads have reduced travelling times considerably, the ISPR added.

The army chief also vowed to bring peace and stability to the tribal regions where security forces are battling local and foreign militants. He added that Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan Agency was progressing ‘successfully’ as per plan.

According to the ISPR, the army chief also appreciated the support of tribal elders in combating militancy and acknowledged their sacrifices in the war against terror. Gen Raheel’s visit came as the military continued to pursue militants in North Waziristan and Khyber Agency.

The army chief, while focusing on early completion of the operation, said the army would continue with rehabilitation and reconstruction activities, according to the ISPR. “A comprehensive plan in this regard has been chalked out in consultation with the government,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2014.