Bar Qambar Khel offensive: Jirga on military operation ends in stalemate
Tribal elder ask for more time to ponder over government’s four-point demands.
LANDI KOTAL:
The Khyber Agency political administration, security forces and the Qamber Khel tribe failed to reach a consensus on whether to continue military operations in the Bar Qambar Khel area of the agency or to fulfil the government’s four-point agenda.
The assistant political agent of Bara subdivision, Nasir Khan, said that no agreement was reached in the jirga and tribal elders asked for more time to ponder over the government’s demands and military offensive in their area. The jirga was held at the Khyber House Peshawar on Monday.
On Friday, another tripartite jirga was held and political agent of Khyber Agency, Mutahir Zaib, presented the four points of the government before the tribal elders in the presence of the Mehsud scouts commandant
A source within the political administration told The Express Tribune that the PA asked the tribesmen to hand over wanted people to the government, especially members of banned outfits, expel Afghan clerics from their areas, close down private jails and guarantee that peace is maintained in the area.
The source added that officials told the elders that if the government’s demands are not met, security forces will have to launch an operation against militants, forcing residents to evacuate.
The tribesmen decided on Friday to continue the jirga until the next day, but on Saturday they were denied entry to the Qamber Khel area due to security reasons.
Member National Assembly (MNA) Hameedullah Jan Afridi said the government’s deadline ended on Monday and that no breakthrough could be achieved in the jirga.
The MNA said the jirga had also asked the authorities for further time, which according to Afridi had been denied. However, he added that they were still trying to reach a consensus.
Afridi said that at present, military operations were going on in all clan areas of the Afridi tribe, except for Bar Qambar Khel.
He added that the government’s plea is that external elements are using tribal territory and ultimately want the tribesmen to control their areas under territorial responsibility. He feared that continued military operations and further civilian evacuation may result if the talks break down.
About tribesmen reluctance to accept the government demands, Afridi said that external elements were misguiding people for their vested interests.
Assistant Political Agent (APA) Nasir added that the tribesmen’s request for more time from the political agent on the military operation or meeting the government demands was greeted with an indefinite answer from the PA, who said that tribal elders would be informed about the government’s final decision.
Nasir said that the jirga will meet on Tuesday or Wednesday for a final decision. “The situation is at a dead end, the tribesmen have to make a decision soon as the deadline set by the government has already ended on Monday,” the APA said while talking to The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2012.
The Khyber Agency political administration, security forces and the Qamber Khel tribe failed to reach a consensus on whether to continue military operations in the Bar Qambar Khel area of the agency or to fulfil the government’s four-point agenda.
The assistant political agent of Bara subdivision, Nasir Khan, said that no agreement was reached in the jirga and tribal elders asked for more time to ponder over the government’s demands and military offensive in their area. The jirga was held at the Khyber House Peshawar on Monday.
On Friday, another tripartite jirga was held and political agent of Khyber Agency, Mutahir Zaib, presented the four points of the government before the tribal elders in the presence of the Mehsud scouts commandant
A source within the political administration told The Express Tribune that the PA asked the tribesmen to hand over wanted people to the government, especially members of banned outfits, expel Afghan clerics from their areas, close down private jails and guarantee that peace is maintained in the area.
The source added that officials told the elders that if the government’s demands are not met, security forces will have to launch an operation against militants, forcing residents to evacuate.
The tribesmen decided on Friday to continue the jirga until the next day, but on Saturday they were denied entry to the Qamber Khel area due to security reasons.
Member National Assembly (MNA) Hameedullah Jan Afridi said the government’s deadline ended on Monday and that no breakthrough could be achieved in the jirga.
The MNA said the jirga had also asked the authorities for further time, which according to Afridi had been denied. However, he added that they were still trying to reach a consensus.
Afridi said that at present, military operations were going on in all clan areas of the Afridi tribe, except for Bar Qambar Khel.
He added that the government’s plea is that external elements are using tribal territory and ultimately want the tribesmen to control their areas under territorial responsibility. He feared that continued military operations and further civilian evacuation may result if the talks break down.
About tribesmen reluctance to accept the government demands, Afridi said that external elements were misguiding people for their vested interests.
Assistant Political Agent (APA) Nasir added that the tribesmen’s request for more time from the political agent on the military operation or meeting the government demands was greeted with an indefinite answer from the PA, who said that tribal elders would be informed about the government’s final decision.
Nasir said that the jirga will meet on Tuesday or Wednesday for a final decision. “The situation is at a dead end, the tribesmen have to make a decision soon as the deadline set by the government has already ended on Monday,” the APA said while talking to The Express Tribune.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2012.