PESHAWAR: Asking the security agencies to fulfill their part of responsibility by eliminating the Taliban in Swat, the NWFP government Friday claimed it had won the war on the political front.
“We’ve entered a decisive phase. Either the nation and its security agencies will emerge successful by eliminating the terrorists, or the latter will prevail,” said Mian Iftikhar Hussain, information minister and spokesman for the NWFP government.
Speaking at a news conference here on Friday, Mian Iftikhar said the whole Pakistani nation supported the operation against Taliban with one voice and they wanted their elimination. “Now it is the responsibility of the country’s security agencies to get rid of the rogue elements.”
He said network of militants had been dismantled and they were targeting civilians in utter frustration after receiving a serious blow in Malakand division. Attacks like the ones carried out in Qissa Khwani were meant to force the government to stop the military operation. “However, it is our firm resolve that the government can’t be intimidated through such dastardly and cowardly acts,” said the minister.
He said the militants were changing their strategy and techniques now. Tactics similar to those of Lahore were used in Peshawar. However, the government had also prepared its own strategy to thwart the ill designs of the militants.
He said the people and the government were now sailing in the same boat. “No other option, except the military action, was left with the government to root out the scourge of terrorism,” said the minister.
At the same time, he said there might be civilian casualties as the whole country was passing through a war-like situation. “But we are prepared for all kinds of sacrifices to secure the future of our coming generations,” he vowed.
Expressing satisfaction over the role of the security agencies, Mian Iftikhar said they were rendering greater services to secure the people and the blast at the Sra Khawra Police Post in Matani area was a proof of that.
To a question about the killing of Taliban commander Fazlullah, Mian Iftikhar said there were rumours, but the government had no authentic information to share with the media. However, the minister confirmed the arrest of militants from IDP camps on the basis of information provided by the dwellers of the makeshift villages. “We’ve 90 per cent proof of their being militants,” he added.
Asked why the government not sending back the Buner people into their areas after the return of normalcy there, Mian Iftikahr said the government had to restore facilities like electricity, provide edibles, water, medicines and re-organise the district administration before sending them back. He said 30 trucks full of edibles and other items had reached Buner district for the stranded people.
About the camps for IDPs, the minister said arrangements had been finalised to establish a new camp at Kund area of Nowshera district. The area had been selected because of its closeness to the river and moderate temperature, said Mian Iftikhar.
Releasing the fresh figures about the IDPs, he said a total of 19,596 families with 115,166 individuals were living in camps with another 360,963 families with 2,678,695 individuals outside camps.
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