LANDIKOTAL: The terrorists in Khyber Agency have been defeated and their movement through Pakistan-Afghan border blocked, official said on Friday. Speaking to journalists, Political Agent Shahab Ali Shah said that the security forces had broken the network of militants. “All the hideouts situated in Bara and Tirah valley have been destroyed and hundreds of militants killed and some arrested,” he added. The political agent said it was the proof of peace in Bara that around 0.1 million people had returned to hometowns in Khyber Agency, adding that the forces were still searching for militants in the remote areas of the tribal region. Regarding the restoration of services in Bara, the official said that militants destroyed 95 state-run schools and health centres. He said reconstruction of the installations would take some time; however, tent schools had been set up to accommodate schoolchildren. The official said the government was inviting foreign investors and United Nations to launch mega development projects in Bara. The official said Rs2.5 billion had been allocated for the restoration of electricity, portable water, health and other necessary projects in Bara. He said Governor Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan was taking interest to make Bara bazaar a model marketplace in Fata. The official maintained that departments concerned had been directed to start construction work on the Landikotal Press Club and release compensation amount to the deserving patients on monthly basis.
