The authorities are geared to safeguard the people from the militants, who sneaked back from Afghanistan in small numbers to live in their native areas, says ISPR.
By Naveed Naqvi
ISLAMABAD: The military Saturday confirmed that armed men have sneaked into the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan from the neighbouring Afghanistan.
A statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) sought to allay popular unease over the development by asserting that the militants’ numbers are small, that they have taken positions away from the populated areas, and that they “will be dealt with full use of force if required”.
Social media has been rife with reports of the militants’ return over the last few weeks. The ISPR statement dismissed the reports to the effect that the militants are back in the scenic Swat valley in large numbers as “grossly exaggerated and misleading”.
Earlier this week, unconfirmed reports in the mainstream media said the TTP cohorts were returning as part of a deal on the course of talks being brokered by the Afghan Taliban between the militant umbrella group and Pakistani authorities.
The reports have caused widespread anxiety in the KP, with civil society and political parties holding protest demonstrations against any such development in some areas.
The ISPR sought to allay the people’s fears over the development by asserting that the authorities are alive to the situation and geared to ensure the safety and security of the populace.
The statement said: “During the past few days, a misperception about alleged presence of large number of proscribed organisation TTP’s armed members in Swat Valley has been created on social media.
“After confirmation on ground, these reports have been found as grossly exaggerated and misleading. Presence of small number of armed men on few mountain tops between Swat and Dir has been observed, located far away from population.
“Apparently, these individuals sneaked in from Afghanistan to resettle in their native areas. A close watch is being maintained on their limited presence and movement in mountains. Required measures are in place by all LEAs for the safety and security of people of adjoining areas.
“Presence of militants any where will not be tolerated and they will be dealt with full use of force if required.”
There has been no official word as of now over the progress of Pakistan’s talks with TTP. Islamabad seems eager to repatriate the militants, holed up in Afghanistan since their flight ahead of military operations in their native regions of KP, for strategic reasons.
An armed group camped out on the border can easily fall prey to some nefarious designs of hostile intelligence services looking to create unrest in Pakistan. Pakistan’s security interests are, therefore, best served by the integration of the TTP cohorts as law abiding citizens of the society in short order.
The militants are said to be eager to renounce violence and return to their native lands for their own reasons.
Thankfully, the talks between the governments and TTP leadership are ostensibly holding up despite the death of a key militant leader Umar Khalid Khurasani in a roadside attack.
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