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NWFP asks Centre to act over Taliban buildup in Jamrud

* Official warns country will face ‘Iraq-like situation’ if federal government does not act against Taliban decisively

By Daud Khattak

PESHAWAR: The NWFP government has asked the federal government to take decisive action against a Taliban builup in Jamrud, a senior official told Daily Times on Tuesday.

“The government has to take action or we shall see Iraq-like situation in the area in the coming few months,” the official said on condition of anonymity, referring to the deteriorating law and order situation in the city and growing Taliban activities in Jamrud and adjacent areas of Khyber and Mohmand agencies.

He said a high-level meeting was held in the provincial capital two days ago to discuss the situation emerging in Jamrud tehsil and on the outskirts of Peshawar.

The meeting chaired by the chief minister and attended by top security officials and others discussed the prevailing lawlessness in the province and termed it a result of mounting Taliban activity in Khyber Agency.

He said the meeting had noted that Taliban from Jamrud were responsible for kidnappings and attacks on NATO supply convoys.

The official hoped that the rising Taliban-related trouble on the country’s western border would reduce in the wake of tension between India and Pakistan following the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

“It is because the focus will be shifted to the country’s eastern border due to a threat of war from the Indian side,” he elaborated. He said the United States was now pressing the central government to go for decisive action against Taliban.

The residents of Peshawar and adjacent areas are feeling insecure after the snatching of 13 trucks in Jamrud, clashes between police and Taliban in Matani and Ring Road areas and Sunday’s attack on a terminal in Peshawar where 21 trucks destined for Afghanistan were gutted.

Located at a stone’s throw from Peshawar, the once peaceful Jamrud area is fast becoming a strong bastion of Taliban who are operating with impunity. Their presence is not only a cause of serious concern for the provincial government, but for the residents of Jamrud as well.

The provincial government’s call comes as the country has witnessed an unprecedented surge in violence and lawlessness in the insurgency-wracked Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) as well as the settled districts of NWFP in November.

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