Permanent army post in Chitral demanded

International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) Goodwill Ambassador for the Pak-US Relations Aliya Harir on Monday said that keeping in view the strategic importance of Chitral, the government should establish permanent security post of army in southern and western borders of the district.

Expressing concern over the recent attacks in Chitral from across the border, Aliya Harir, who belongs to Chitral, said the recent killing of the innocent personnel of Chitral Scouts, police and border police was a matter of serious concern for all and sundry, especially for the youth of Chitral.

“I wish to appeal to the chief of International Human Right Commission to take up the matter at an appropriate level to prevent bloodshed of Chitrali people,” she told The News by phone here Monday.

She said Chitral had remained an area of peace, love and affection for Afghan refugees for more than 30 years. “Half a million people of this part of the country opened their houses for over two million Afghan refugees and accommodated them just like their own brother and sisters,” she said, adding, “May I ask Nato and Afghan National Army, how they were not aware of the mounting activities of the militants in the country.

The reports of an unusual movement of Nato helicopters across the border in Kunar province during the attacks in the area, as reported by media, need to be answered, she added. “I wish to appeal to the US to look into this continued aggression by the militants from across the border into Chitral, which is historically a peaceful land in Pakistan,” she said, adding that being a Chitrali daughter, she would appeal to the local leadership to learn a lesson from recent history and prepare security to cope with the emerging security threats in our area to maintain peace in the district.