Musharraf asks tribesmen to banish foreigners

President General Pervez Musharraf has called upon the tribesmen to convert difficulties into opportunity by fully co-operating with the government to banish foreign elements from their soil and bring about development in their areas.
Addressing a grand tribal jirga here at the Governor House lawns, the President told the tribesmen that they were at the centre of attention of the outside world after the 9/11. The President dwelt on the events taking place in the tribal areas and the efforts being made by the government and the assistance received from abroad for socio-economic development in the region.
Referring to the Pak-Afghan grand jirga to be constituted shortly to thrash out the issues confronting both the countries, President Musharraf said that it would have representation from all walks of life including tribesmen. The jirga would be tasked to evolve a comprehensive political strategy for settlement of disputes and maintenance of public order on both sides of the border, he said.
He asked the tribesmen to cooperate with the government in purging the tribal territory of the foreign elements and emphasised that the task could be accomplished only with their support.
"We have been housing them (foreign elements) and providing them hospitality for twenty-eight years but now it is becoming a threat for our solidarity and peace," he said. President Musharraf impressed upon the tribesmen to stop cross-border infiltration of unwanted elements that were causing unrest. He cautioned them that this infiltration would have undesirable consequences in the region. The President told the tribal elders that when peace was restored in Afghanistan the foreign forces would vacate that country.
He stressed that peace was imperative for development and progress and a panacea for all ills, but made it clear that it could not be achieved through the use of force alone.
"Pakistan needs your unflinching support, which you rendered in the past in its hard days", he said and added that the elements of terror were misusing the sacred name of Islam for the fulfilment of their nefarious designs.
He told the Jirga that there was no threat to Islam in Pakistan as it was established in the name of Islam. "This is the only country of the world that has come into being in the name of Islam and as such it is an ideological state."
The President said no law repugnant to Quran and Sunnah could be enacted in the country and added that controversy over who is best Muslim should be avoided, as it is a matter between "the Creator and man."
Referring to the peace agreements in Waziristan and Bajaur, the President underscored the need for their hundred percent implementation and reminded tribesmen that "you do not go back on your words which is your history and character."
The President pointed out that violation peace accord is a matter of embarrassment for the country abroad as "we have been telling them that these agreements are aimed at creating conducive atmosphere for peace in the tribal areas".
"I am always at the fore front to defend your case during foreign tours and try to brush aside the negative propaganda against you there after 9/11, besides demanding funds for your development". However, he said, the tribesmen had every right to demand uplift of their areas and the government was duty bound to provide funds for this as they had suffered neglect of their development needs in the past. It was no favour to them to spend on development of their region, he added.
He urged tribesmen to focus on development and progress of their areas. "You have two options before you - progress and prosperity or backwardness," he said. "God has accorded us an opportunity for progress and bright future of our coming generation," he said, underscoring the need to seize the opportunity. President Musharraf told the jirga that peace was the way out for the honourable exit of the foreign forces from Afghanistan. If these forces left Afghanistan in the present circumstances civil strife would erupt there, he said adding that peace in Afghanistan has direct bearing on normalcy in Fata.
"Foreign terrorists are the biggest threat to our country and therefore they have to be flushed out", he said. President Musharraf, showing his displeasure over the recent bombardment on a village in Waziristan, said that Pakistan had lodged a strong protest against this act and assured that the victims would be compensated duly. He also announced that the flood-affected people in Kurram Agency would be given compensation.
The President lauded the loyalty of the tribesmen with the country. "You have always shed your blood for the defence and solidarity of the country. You have always demonstrated gallantry and courage and your character is unblemished and clean," he said.
Earlier, addressing the jirga, the NWFP Governor Ali Mohammad Aurakzai threw light on the usefulness of Pak-Afghan grand jirga and said it would have positive impact for the promotion of peace in the area. "We would consolidate the jirga system in Fata as it is rooted in the fabric of the tribal society," he said.
The Governor said that tribesmen are always peace loving, progressive and most loyal to the cause of the country and the nation. He said that tribal society is egalitarian as they are democratic by nature.
At the outset of the function, some elders representing various tribal agencies presented souvenirs to the President including sword, carpets, gun and traditional "Lungi".
Malik Waris Khan Afridi presented an address of welcome and highlighted the problems of tribal areas. He also assured the President that they would spare no effort for the restoration of peace and for flushing out the terrorists from their society. "We are the custodians of the frontiers of the country and soldiers without pay", the tribal elder said.