KP apex committee decides to improve border management, block illegal towers

Delegation to visit Kabul to discuss issue of extortion calls; COAS praises resolve

of Fata, KP people against terrorism

PESHAWAR: The top civil and military brass on Saturday stressed the need for improving border management at all crossing points with Afghanistan, particularly at Torkham in the Khyber Agency.

The meeting also decided to shut down illegal communication towers inside Pakistani territory, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The meeting of the Apex Committee of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata was attended by Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra, Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, Director General Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Rizwan Akhtar, Corps Commander Peshawar Lt Gen Hidayatur Rehman, Director General ISPR Lt Gen Asim Salim Bajwa and senior officials of the provincial and Fata Secretariat.

According to the statement, the forum took notice of illegal movement on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border at different places without any legal documents. They decided to enforce a proper border-crossing mechanism in letter and spirit.

The members of the committee also took notice of growing incidents of extortions and calls being made from Afghan cell numbers to people in Pakistan demanding extortion money. These calls are made to the people of Peshawar and other places in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata from the Pak-Afghan border region. 

The forum principally decided to shut down all illegal communication towers inside Pakistani territory. It was decided to send a high-level delegation to Kabul to engage with the Afghan authorities to seek cooperation for the resolution of the issue.

Also, the forum reviewed the progress of the ongoing military operation in Shawal valley in North Waziristan, intelligence-based operations in the province and resettlement and return of the internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The statement said the forum expressed its complete satisfaction over progress of the last phase of operation in Shawal and ongoing intelligence-based operations.

Paying tribute to the resilience and courage of people of Fata and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, General Raheel Sharif said that with resolve and courage, the proud tribesmen and people of KP stood up to the atrocities of the terrorists and pushed them back. He reiterated his commitment with the tribal brethren to rebuild the area and revive the entire socio-economic infrastructure. The army chief appreciated harmony amongst all stakeholders and organisations and directed them to expedite the pace of work and ensure its best quality.

The governor and chief minister appreciated the wholehearted support of the Pakistan Army and reiterated the resolve of the Fata administration and the provincial government to rid the province of terrorism and extremism and pave the way for the development and wellbeing of the people.