LANDI KOTAL: Ninetyeight per cent area of tribal districts was cleared of terrorists and a new era of development was started there, said outgoing Inspector General of Frontier Corps Lt Gen Waseem Ashraf.

Addressing a farewell gathering arranged by the elders of Khyber tribal district in his honour after his promotion to the rank of lieutenant general at Levies Centre in Jamrud on Monday, he said that international community was taking guidance from Pakistan Army about the successes it achieved against terrorist organisations during the last 15 years of intense military operations in difficult terrains of tribal regions, bordering Afghanistan.

He said that war against terrorism and extremism was fought in close collaboration and assistance with people, especially the patriotic residents of tribal districts.

`The victory against militants was possible only with the help of people of tribal districts,` he added.

The former IG FC said that attention would be focused on provision ofqualityeducationandestablishment of educational institutions along with rehabilitating the damaged institutions in the region.

He said that new cadet colleges would be built in every tribal district while huge funds were allocated for overall development of the terrorism-affected area.

He paid rich tributes to those, who sacrificed their lives in fight against terrorists.

Tribal elders from all the major tribes of Khyber, outgoing Sector Commander Brig Arshad Tauseef, new Sector Commander Brig Shehbaz, Deputy Commissioner Mehmud Aslam Wazir and three assistant commissioners of Bara, Landi Kotal and Jamrud were also present on the occasion.

DEMAND: Khyber Transporters Union president Shakir Afridi has demanded of the Afghan government to help in release of hundreds of empty stranded vehicles on Afghan side of Torkham border.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, he alleged that Afghan border authorities stopped more than 2,000 empty containers and trucks on their side on the pretext of regulating traffic.

Mr Afridi demanded of the Pakistani authorities to grant him permission for taking a delegation of local transporters and traders to hold talks with Afghan officials for release of all the stranded vehicles.