Pakistani troops will continue operations in the troubled areas or wherever needed to bring peace and stability to the country, said Shagufta Jumani, minister of state for religious affairs.
The minister, who is in the Kingdom to oversee the Pakistan mission’s preparation for this year’s Haj, visited the Pakistan International School (English Section) in Jeddah on Monday where Principal Sehar Kamran gave a draft of Rs.897,000 for the relief of those affected due to military operations.
“The money has been raised by the PISJ (ES) staff and students for the benefits of the internally displaced peoples (IDP),” Sehar said.
Talking about the massive military operations launched to clear the region of the militants, the minister said: “It was a difficult decision for the government which had signed a peace agreement with the militants but when the militants were not adhering to the pact the government was left with only this option, perhaps they understand this language better.”
The minister said as far as operations in Swat Valley in Malakand and Hazara are concerned they have been launched to save the country from disintegration and to flush out foreign terrorists. She said that for quite some time these areas were practically out of the government’s control and it was important for the country’s safety, security and peace that the writ of law was established there.
“These elements were challenging the writ of the government and were not willing to adhere to peaceful means. They made the country unsafe, compelling the government to launch military operations to get rid of them,” she said, adding that more than 1,700 militants have been killed and 500 arrested in the course of the operations.
“Let me tell you frankly, the operations will continue as long as these elements are there not only in the troubled regions but wherever they are found. We are not going to leave them in peace now,” Jumani said.
She said that these foreign fighters had made Swat their safe haven and were getting support from some of “our neighbors.”
The minister said the security situation has improved in the terror-hit regions and people have now started going back to their homes.
“The military has now pushed the Taleban out of their former bastion of Swat, and the adjoining areas, and the government is keen to move the displaced back to their homes.” The minister assured that the region is safe now.
Millions of people were forced out of their homes due to the military operations in the border regions. The exodus was one of the biggest human migrations of recent times, stretching Pakistan’s resources to the breaking point and prompting a global appeal for humanitarian help.
“While about 200,000 of theses internally displaced peoples were living in camps, most stayed with relatives and friends,” Jumani said. “These refugees who spent weeks in relief camps have begun heading home to the battle-scarred northwest Swat Valley on Monday under a government repatriation program, traveling on buses with security escorts.”
“Each family is given 25,000 rupees on their return journey. The government was also providing transportation and security to them. Around 1.5 billion rupees have already been disbursed among the IDPs.”
The IDPs’ plight is a sensitive issue for the government, which could see support for its more than two-month drive against the Taleban eroded if they are seen to be suffering unduly. However, the minister said that the whole nation was behind the government of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on this and there was no confusion or contradictions among political parties on the issue of military operation, she stressed.
Talking about this year’s Haj arrangement, the minister said she was trying her best to provide best services to about 200,000 pilgrims expected this year from Pakistan.
This year, private tour operators (PTOs) have been categorized into five categories from “A” to “E,” depending upon their performance in the last Haj.
“Those under “A” category will have to deposit Rs.5 million with the government to take care of up to 500 pilgrims.”
The PTOs with one complaint against them last year have been put in “C” and those with more than two complaints in “D” and “E” categories.
The minister said that the housing arrangement was almost 75 percent completed in Makkah and Madinah.
“This year all pilgrims will come on machine readable passports as per the latest Saudi guidelines. Arrangements are being made to provide passport to pilgrims in five to seven days,” she added.
