Saturday, May 30, 2009

Experts warn against prolonged action in Malakand

PESHAWAR: Experts at a seminar Saturday demanded a targeted, precise and decisive operation in Malakand division, as a prolonged military action would have negative consequences.

The Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Islamia College Peshawar, had organised the one-day seminar on the current situation in the NWFP. Besides others, the day-long seminar was addressed by former NWFP governor Lt General (R) Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai, former ambassador to Afghanistan and ex-chief secretary Rustam Shah Mohmand, Brig (R) Mehmood Shah and Dr Sarfaraz of Area Study Centre, University of Peshawar.

Ali Muhammad Jan Aurakzai said the present militancy was the output of Afghan Jihad, which he said was fought by the United States for its own interests in Afghanistan. He said that the US had promoted and financed terrorism and militancy during Afghan war, adding that the presence of US troops in Afghanistan was still the main cause of violence and unrest in the region.

The former governor said the imperialist forces were trying to safeguard their interests in the region by engaging their so-called enemies in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The other speakers blamed the present and past rulers for pushing the country into crises by joining the so-called war on terror. They said the killing and displacement of innocent people in Malakand division would enhance militancy in the affected areas. They stressed for keeping the national interest supreme while fighting against terrorism and militancy in the country.

They said the displacement of more than three million people from Malakand division was one of the biggest dilemmas in the history of Pakistan. They asked the government to provide all possible facilities to the internally displaced families in each and every corner of the country.

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