Fighting militancy: ‘Writ of state restored in Bajaur’

Political agent says full control of agency regained.

KHAR:

Bajaur Agency was considered to be the main command and control center of al Qaeda back in 2007 and suffered the brunt of cross-border attacks, but now senior officials say the writ of the government has been restored in the agency.

Political agent for Bajaur Agency Syed Abdul Jabar Shah said complete normalcy has been restored in areas affected by militancy and the writ of the government has been established in what were once no-go areas.

The civil administration has regained full control over the agency, Shah added. Briefing journalists on Thursday, he said the situation has only been controlled because of joint efforts by the security forces and tribal elders.

The agency’s borders have been secured from militants infiltrating from Afghanistan. Hundreds of levies personnel and members of village defence committees have been deployed at the 50km long border area. The most recent of cross-border attacks was in August last year which continued for over a week. However, now local peace militias have been reinstated and made more powerful.

“Tribesmen played a key role in the restoration of peace and elimination of militants in the agency,” Shah said, adding that they are cooperating with the administration and are performing their territorial responsibilities according to the tribal system.

There are 146 village defence committees in the entire region, comprising 1,746 members.

In response to a question, he said that the administration has been providing financial support and other assistance to committee members. An amount of Rs20,000 is given each month, in addition to arms provided to them.

Shah added 49 levies personnel of Bajaur have been killed and 65 injured in the war on terror. The levies forces form the backbone of the civil administration and several hundred youth in the area will be recruited in the force next month.

In October last year, the political administration lifted the night curfew from the area after a period of five years. Cellular service had also been restored in parts of the agency.

The government has begun several development projects in the area. (Additional reporting by Mureeb Mohmand in Shabqadar).

Published in The Express Tribune, January 18^th, 2013.