Pakistan Army Incessantly developing FATA

PESHAWAR - Corps Commander Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani Tuesday said around 3300 Pakistan Army personnel have embraced martyrdom in the ongoing war against terrorism and more than 10,000 received severe injuries in different military operations.

“We and the whole nation feel proud of our martyrs, who embraced martyrdom by sacrificing their lives for peace on the homeland in a war where there is only one option for us “as Pakistanis” and that is to win it,” Corps Commander Peshawar said while addressing one day seminar titled ‘War on Terror and Role of Pak Army’ here at Sir Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Conference Hall, University of Peshawar. The seminar was organised by Department of Political Science.

The corps commander said that Pakistan Army has conducted more than 300 major and 760 minor operations in militancy-hit areas in the last few years, most of them in the year 2009-10. He added that peace has been restored in entire north of Pakistan and road accesses to majority of Fata have been established.

From the year 2008 to 2012, writ of government has been established in 91 per cent of Fata while eight per cent remain in contested control. Army is working on the sustainable development plan in order to improve the livelihood condition of ordinary people in Fata, he added.

The Commander mentioned 52 ongoing educational projects under Pak Army especially the establishment of Cadet College in South Waziristan Agency, Khyber Institute of Technical Education and Waziristan Institute of Technical education as a major development in improving skill and quality education among people of Fata.

Gen Rabbani categorically stated that no army in the world can win war without the support of its countrymen.

He described political ownership of military operation and operation within tribal system as the way forward in achieving long lasting peace in Pakistani militancy hit areas.

He termed gradual mainstreaming of Fata and its infrastructure development as key towards its socio economic development.

Replying to a question raised by a student, Rabbani said that army remains in a particular area for attaining pace on requisition of the federal government.

He also rejected the perception that army consumes eighty percent of the budget, and explained that all the three forces i.e. Army, Air force and Navy consume 17 per cent of the total budget, in which army share is 8.7 per cent. He stressed the need for perception management of the country and described Pakistani media as key partner in achieving it.

The seminar is a sign of solidarity with our army who are sacrificing their lives for peace within the country, said Prof Dr AZ Hilali, Chairman Department of Political Science. He said that department of political science has been arranging series of national and international seminars on core issues confronting the country and the region for capacity building of the students.

The seminar was attended by Registrar, UoP Dr Fazli Hadi, Dean Faculty of Social Sciences Prof Naeem ur Rehman, Dean Faculty of Arts and Humanities Prof. Dr Farooq Swati and a good number of students.

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the Rise of FATA - Pakistan Army Successful Law Enforcement Operations

Koh-e-Safaid mountain range with highest peak of Sikaram Sar which forms a natural boundary and water shed with Afghanistan is situated in Kurram agency. It remains covered with snow throughout the year, luring nature lovers and captivating them in its fascinating beauty. Kurram valley starts from Thall in Hangu district towards northwest upto Peiwar Kotal on Pak Afghan border. It can be divided into two parts i.e. the Lower Kurram and the Upper Kurram. The lower Kurram extends from Thall in Hangu district to Sadda.

But due to some sectarian disputes, since last two years, the allured valley was under the influence of feuding quarrels regarding sect, and getting the benefit of this worse situation an infamous organization Tehrik-e-Taliban (TTP) played its role to further aggravate sectarianism and launched terrorism and felony against the people of Kurram valley in order to accomplish their vicious intrigue to bring chaos and disarray in Pakistan. TTP is a banned organization involved in a number of suicide attacks, killing dozens of innocent people with bastion in South Waziristan agency.

Battered people of kurram agency requested Pak army to take charge of miscreants and an operation “KOH-E-SAFAID” was launched against TTP in July 2011 in order to annihilate the infidel cadre. With the arrival of Pak army in Kurram agency, the obdurate organization got no way out but to hide in mountains and to amalgamate in normal people for deception and ambush. But the evildoers didn’t know the fortified Pak army which took control of the situation in a very small amount of time and diminished the mongers of Satan and ousting the remaining out of the valley. With the conscientious efforts of Pak army, Thal-Parachanar road is also reopened after years which is really appreciated by the public. Now displaced people are back to their homes and army is helping poor people to settle down their once again in amity with each other.

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Pakistan Army Relentless Efforts to Stabilize FATA

PESHAWAR: No army in the world could win war without the support of its countrymen and political ownership of the ongoing military operations in militancy-hit areas of the country was necessary to achieve long-lasting peace, Peshawar Corps Commander Lt-Gen Khalid Rabbani said .

Addressing participants of a seminar on ‘War on terror and role of Pakistan Army’ at University of Peshawar (UoP), the corps commander said from 2008 to 2012, the government’s writ had been re-established in 91 per cent of Fata, while the situation in the remaining areas was under control.

He said around 3,300 Pakistan Army personnel had lost lives in the line of duty in the war against terrorism and more than 10,000 had been severely injured in various operations.

“We and the whole nation feel proud of those, who have laid lives for peace in a war where there is only one option for us and that is to win it,” he said

Lt-Gen Khalid said Pakistan Army had conducted more than 300 major and 760 minor operations in militancy-hit areas over the last few years, mostly in 2009-10. He said peace had been restored in the entire northern region of Pakistan and road accesses to most of Fata had been established.

The corps commander said the army was working on a sustainable development plan for Fata to improve livelihood of locals.

He said the army had been carrying out 52 educational projects in Fata and they included establishment of a cadet college in South Waziristan Agency, Khyber Institute of Technical Education and Waziristan Institute of Technical Education.

Lt-Gen Khalid called for gradual mainstreaming of Fata and said its infrastructure development was imperative for socioeconomic development in the region.

He said the army went to an area for pace at the request of the federal government. He denied that the army consumed eight per cent of the budget and said all three forces i.e. army, navy and air force consumed 17 per cent of the country’s total budget, while the army shared in it was 8.7 per cent.

Chairman of UoP Political Science Department Professor Dr AZ Hilali, whose department organised the seminar, highlighted the importance of the seminar and said it was a sign of solidarity with Pakistan Army, which rendered great sacrifices for peace in the country.

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'US making Islamabad Scapegoat for Failure to Beat Afghan Insurgency': Pak Army Commander

A top Pakistani military commander has reportedly accused Washington of seeking to make Islamabad a scapegoat for its failure to beat insurgency in Afghanistan.

Lt Gen Khalid Rabbani, the corps commander for Peshawar, during an interview with an American Press agency, said US efforts to talk peace with insurgents in Afghanistan meant Washington can no longer expect Pakistan to attack all militant factions on its side of the border, some of whom Islamabad is also reaching out to.

"Why do they raise their fingers toward Pakistan? It is shifting the blame to others," The Express Tribune quoted Lt. Gen. Rabbani, as saying.

Lt. Gen. Rabbani remarks came a day after militants in North Waziristan killed 13 soldiers, including four that it captured when troops raided a militant hideout.

According to the paper, Lt. Gen. Rabbani defended the government's dealings with North Waziristan-based militant commander Hafiz Gul Bahadur, who is believed to have signed a nonaggression pact with the government, saying "at the moment he seems to be trying to keep himself out of the trouble."

He also stressed that U.S. and NATO were in contact with insurgents in Afghanistan to try and "co-opt them into the peace process."

"Something has to be done, and it's in the offing. North Waziristan is the only region we haven't cleared. It should be done as early as possible," the paper quoted Lt. Gen. Rabbani, as saying. (ANI)

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'Medical college, IT university to be set up in FATA’ at Bajaur Agency at Kurram Agency, respectively

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for SAFRON Engineer Shaukatullah Khan has said that a medical college and an IT university will be set up at Bajaur Agency at Kurram Agency, respectively.
This was announced by the federal minister during a meeting with FATA parliamentarians’ delegation. The federal minister further said the Ministry of SAFRON had initiated many projects for the welfare of the FATA masses. He said that after the establishment of educational institutions, the people of these areas would get modern education at their doorsteps. All these developments were part of a special package of the federal government for FATA, the minister added.
The FATA parliamentarians acknowledged the efforts of the government and thanked the federal minister for the FATA welfare.
The minister assured the delegation of taking more steps to improve the living standard of the FATA people.

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FATA-Ahead In Progress

 (Balochistan Times): The Government has successfully rehabilitated three kilometres of road, including the construction of side wall, culverts for the full length and extra surface coating for 166 meters for the community of Bushahra in Upper Kurram. A press release issued by the Directorate of Information FATA secretariat stated that the Political Administration of Kurram agency had prioritized the rehabilitation of road and completed the project for the community of Bushahra in a short period of time. More than 4,000 inhabitants are benefiting. The Political Administration has also completed construction of street pavement and drainage system in Shashu and Warsak communities in Lower Kurram, which is benefiting approximately 2,500 people. Local labourers were involved to complete the schemes. The project of street pavement and drainage system in Shashu and Warsak was completed by constructing 774 meter of drains and branch drains and pavement of 1,545 meter long and two meter wide streets and branch streets. The Government is committed to improving conditions in the tribal areas where many development projects are under way in education, health and other sectors. The press release added that the Government is aware of the needs of the tribal people and working on water supply, drainage and other schemes in tribal areas. The local population warmly welcomed the schemes. One of the locals said that now we have access to safe sanitary system which would provide protection against water borne diseases.

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Reactivation of abandoned and low performing schools, FATA

Funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), CAMP rehabilitated and reactivated 25 government primary schools for girls in Mohmand agency. CAMP coordinated the activity closely with the Agency Education Office in Mohmand, and the FATA Secretariat.
The main objective of the project was to increase the enrollment of girls at primary level and increase the retention rate by improving the conditions of the schools. Besides the rehabilitation activity, the Project also formed Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs) in 25 schools. The Project also aimed to enhance capacity of the teachers from the selected schools in
school management and innovative skills for better skills transfer. Moreover, to improve the management and supervision at these schools, Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs) were also formed or reactivated.

At the end of the one-year Project, 25 Primary schools for girls were rehabilitated including: improved sanitation facilities, electrification of school buildings, plastering and whitewash, brick work and wood work, flooring, repairing of blackboards etc. The PTAs were strengthened and trained on various issues such as their roles and responsibilities, participatory problem solving techniques and techniques of supportive supervision etc. The Project also supported all 25 schools with note books for all students, uniforms (for 250 deserving students), Teacher Training Kits, furniture and water coolers etc.

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Rehabilitation of displaced Fata tribesmen: Donors meet next month to raise $200 million

PESHAWAR, Jan 22: A donors’ conference will be held next month to raise the required $200 million fund for quick rehabilitation of internally displaced persons of Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
A handout issued here on Sunday said that during a presentation on Fata Disaster Management Authority, held at Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar was told that so far 145,338 displaced families out of total 298,715 had been sent back to their permanent dwellings.
The whole process cost Rs7391.260 million including onetime cash grant of Rs25,000 per family and Rs15,000 for provision of six-month ration to each returning household. The repatriated families belonged to Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai, Kurram and South Waziristan agencies.
Fata Additional Chief Secretary Fazal Karim Khattak and FDMA Director General Arshad Khan also attended the briefing.
The governor was told that an Early Recovery Mechanism for Fata was set up to lay foundations for long term development of the area by catalysing sustainable uplift opportunities for the returning families.
“Key sectors identified in this regards include agriculture, food assistance, health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, community restoration, infrastructure and protection,” the handout said.
The transitional recovery process will initially cover four key agencies including Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai and South Waziristan.
The participants of the briefing were told that an Early Recovery Framework for quick rehabilitation of IDPs was set up with an estimated cost of $200 million for which a fund raising donors’ conference would be convened next month.
The governor was informed that 298,715 families, who were displaced from their permanent abodes in different agencies on different occasions, were registered till the end of year 2011in Jalozai, Togh Serai, Nahaqi, Danish School and New Durrani camps.
Nahaqi and Danish School camps were closed after the inmates moved back to their homes whereas IDPs still lodged in the remaining camps were being provided adequate relief.
About payment of compensation for the damaged properties of IDPs, the governor was told that Rs1054 million were distributed among 8,618 residents of Bajaur Agency so far. It was said that 5,518 returning families were provided shelters in Bajaur, Mohmand, Orakzai and South Waziristan agencies.
On the occasion, Mr Khan said that FDMA also came to rescue flood victims in 2010 and provided relief to people in Khyber, Mohmand, South Waziristan, Frontier Region of Dera Ismail Khan, FR Peshawar, FR Kohat and FR Tank.
The relief goods including tents, non-food items, food packages, hygiene kits and blankets were provided to flood survivors, he said, adding Rs32.200 million cash compensation was
also paid to the legal heirs of 91 deceased and 89 injured.
He said that FDMA was established after the extension of National Disaster Management Order to Fata in 2008 while it initiated rudimentary functions in mid 2010 by its successful response to the floods. The FDMA, he said, was working on modern lines to meet any situation in the wake of natural and man made calamities.
“The FDMA works through its emergency response cells, established at its headquarters and agency level, besides having an effective monitoring mechanism and data compilation and online tracking systems,” he added.

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