Dear John E. Carey;
Hoping and preying for happiness and peace to you and your team at the Peace and Freedom. Now I think the war on terror has reached very near to its logical conclusion as some of the actions of the allied forces in the tribal areas will certainly have positive impacts on the war on terrorism. I think you may hear about the bombing of terrorists hideouts Waziristan tribal areas where according to reports, some 33 people were killed.
It is pathetic to note that on the one hand Pakistan has accepted the role of frontline state in war on terrorism, but on the other hand has been inciting the people in tribal areas to fight against the US forces in Afghanistan. I do not whether President Musharraf will be aware of the situation or not, but the officials have been asking the people to prepare themselves for fighting with the Americans. Most of the tribesmen are illeterate and have no job, therefore, they can easily be hoodwinked.
The other day the administration has given a task to jirga to negotiate with the militants. According to reports, successful parleys were held between the local militants and Mamond tribesmen at the end of which it was announced that a tribal lashkar of 50, 000 people would be raised for maintaining law and order in the agency and defending the border areas.
The political administration and Mamond tribesmen started joint efforts for improving the overall atmosphere in the agency. In this connection, a jirga comprising the elders of all the 10 clans of the Mamond tribe held successful negotiations with the militants on Friday.
Malik Abdul Aziz, the head of the Mamond elders, told media persons later that the militants had given the Mamond tribesmen assurance that they would cooperate in the peace efforts and abide by the terms of the agreement entered with them.
He added that the militants had told them that they were peace-loving Pakistanis and would not hesitate from rendering any sacrifice for maintaining peace in the agency.
Afterwards, the tribal elders informed the political authorities about their talks with the militants and said the Mamond tribe would raise a lashkar of 50,000 persons if the government needed their services for defending the frontiers of the country.
The political authorities appreciated the sentiments and efforts of the tribal elders and said the government needed a peaceful atmosphere for carrying out development activities in the agency and in this connection they would act on the advice of the tribal elders.
Why the political authorities have been giving the task of defending the borders to criminals? This is the question being asked by the tribesmen. Please convey the message of people of Bajaur Agency to the administration they want peace. They will extend full cooperation to the US forces for maintenance of peace in the areas.
Again thank you very much,
Yours sincerely,
Muhammad Khurshid
Khar, Bajaur Agency,
Tribal Areas, Pakistan
