Jobless Chitral youth joining Afghan army

PESHAWAR/CHITRAL: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has ordered probe into reports stating that jobless youth of Chitral District have been joining the Afghan National Army. “Yes, it is in our knowledge and official inquiry has been initiated to reach the truth,” KP Information Minister Mian Iftkhar Hussain said. Reports said that a large number of jobless youths from Chitral and other remote areas of KP's Malakand Division have joined Afghan army for “good salary packages”. It also reported that more and more Chitralis were showing interest in the jobs being offered from across the border. The information minister said, “The Home and Tribal Affairs Department has taken a serious note of this development and Malakand commissioner has also been ordered to collect details about all those who had joined the Afghan army so far.” Political observers have said that the revelation could lead to heavy political repercussions for the ruling Awami National Party (ANP) as opposition parties would use the situation to accuse the party of failing to provide jobs to the youth of the province. ANP has already faced embarrassment after major political parties in KP decided to stay away from an all-parties conference it called over energy crisis. staff report/online

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