‘Hostile forces’ out to reverse tribal gains, army chief warns

RAWALPINDI: “Hostile forces” are bent on reversing progress in Pakistan’s former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), youth representatives from the strife-plagued region have been told.
Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, met with members of a tribal youth jirga in Rawalpindi on Monday and offered congratulations on the tribal belt’s historic merger with the neighboring province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 
But the army chief also warned the youth representatives to “be aware of inimical forces who wish to exploit fault lines and try to reverse our gains.
“They shall never succeed,” he said.
Bajwa praised the youth assembly’s motivation and passion, and said that the tribal belt’s merger will bring peace and socioeconomic gains to the long-neglected area, ending its history as a extremist enclave.
“The state is determined to root out extremism and terrorism for which youth has a great role to play. Focus on your peaceful endeavors; participate in political and democratic activities. We have achieved peace at a high cost of blood and national expense, and we shall never let it go,” Bajwa said.
The army chief said that “achievements won through the sacrifices of the brave tribals” are being consolidated during the transition from relative stability to enduring peace.
He urged the youth to continue working toward peace and progress in Pakistan.
The youth jirga praised the Pakistan Army’s efforts and acknowledged Bajwa’s support for the tribal area.