By Our correspondent
The security forces had launched a military operation, Tor Thandar, in Maidan area of Dir Lower on April 26 this year to drive out militants. They claimed to have cleared Maidan area of the militants.
Barawal area of Dir Upper shares border with the Maidan area of Dir Lower and the military authorities believe the militants might have sneaked into Dir Upper area. Barawal is located near the Pak-Afghan border but presence of militants was never reported from that area. Majority of the people of the area are doing jobs in Gulf countries.
Convening a jirga of the elders of Barawal at Shahi base of the Scouts, Col Haider Bangash said they had information about the presence of militants in the area. He urged the elders to flush them out and extend support to army and police. He asked the elders to form Islahi Committees for resolution of their problems. He said the security forces would have to launch a military action in the area to deal with these militants. He said the offensive would displace thousands of people from their areas. The colonel said the operation could be forestalled if the people of the area take action on their own and evict the militants from the area. He said the use of power was not solution to every problem and the people of the area should come forward to act for the sake of maintenance of peace. Display of arms, he warned, would not be allowed.
Speaking to the jirga, MPA from Dir Anwar Khan said there was no presence of militants in Dir Upper. He said if they got any tip-off about any militant in the area, the people would catch and hand him over to the security forces. The jirga assured the military official of full support against the militants.