Tribesmen pledge support to security forces

BARA: The tribesmen belonging to Zakhakhel, Shinwari and Shalmani tribes on Sunday announced at a jirga to hold a protest demonstration against the US for ignoring Pakistan’s sacrifices in the war on terror.

 The gathering was held at the Jirga Hall in Landikotal tehsil in Khyber Agency. A large number of elders from Zakhakhel, Shinwari and Shalmani tribes, workers of various political parties and members of trade unions attended the jirga.

 Speaking on the occasion, Malik Darya Khan Afridi, Malik Abdul Raziq, Misal Khan, Abdur Raziq Shinwari, Maulana Shoaib, Muqtadir Shah Afridi and others criticised the US President Donald Trump for ignoring the sacrifices rendered by Pakistan in the war against terror.

 They said that the US had failed to bring about peace to Afghanistan and it was now blaming Pakistan for its failure.  The jirga added that the Pakistani people and its security forces had made great sacrifices and it was unfair on the part of the US to put the blame on Pakistan. The tribal elders called upon the Afghanistan government not to become part of any conspiracy to destabilise Pakistan.

 The jirga members reiterated that the tribal people would fight alongside with the security forces at the frontlines to defend the country in cases of any aggression.  Awami National Party senior leader from Khyber Agency Malik Darya Khan Afridi said tribal people always defended the country.

 He said they wanted friendly and cordial relations with neighbouring Afghanistan but if its soil was used against Pakistan they would support the security forces. Another elder, Malik Abdul Razzaq Afridi, reaffirmed that tribal people were loyal to the country and would defend it any cost.

 He asked the tribespeople to arrange anti-US walks and demonstrations in their respective areas. Assistant Political Agent of Landikotal Niaz Muhammad and political tehsildar also spoke on the occasion.