 The Interior Ministry has advised President Pervez Musharraf to deploy army troops against foreign militants hiding in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) only as a last resort and rely on paramilitary forces instead.
| Tribal lashkars work so well, after all... |
A senior Interior Ministry official told Daily Times that during meetings with the president on FATA, the ministry opposed frequent army operations against militants in the tribal areas. The president was advised that the Frontier Constabulary and Levies should be made responsible for taking action against militants in Waziristan and other troubled tribal areas.
| They haven't been tearin' 'em up to date, but I'm sure they will soon. |
The ministry called for continuing the dialogue process to find out a political solution to the conflict. It proposed that pro-government tribal elders be encouraged to gain support for the government from tribal people. Sources said the ministry was of the view that there was still room for talks with tribal elders to ask them to expel foreign militants. It said that the process of dialogue through the office of the NWFP governor must be strengthened and leaders of the ruling and opposition parties help overcome the crisis. |