The Jamaat-i-Islami organized a “peace jirga” to address the situation stemming from Tehreek-i-Taliban militants’ incursions into Chitral’s border areas and their attacks on security force check posts in Astoi and Jinjiret Koh areas. Participants included political activists and individuals from diverse backgrounds.
The jirga issued a statement urging the army chief to visit Chitral, assess the situation, and boost the confidence of the people and security forces. It also called for fencing along the border region adjoining Nooristan and Badakhan areas of Afghanistan.
Furthermore, the jirga stressed that the border force responsible for safeguarding the Afghanistan border should refrain from granting special treatment to district administration officers. Instead, it advocated for the improvement of living conditions in border villages, encompassing essential amenities such as roads, clean water, hospitals, and food storage facilities for the local population.
The event featured speakers including JI district leader Maulana Jamshed Ahmed, former district nazim Maghfirat Shah, Abdul Majeed Qureshi, Ali Akbar Qazi, Sajidullah, Pir Mukhtar Ali Shah, and others.
In a separate development, district leaders from various political parties convened a press conference at Chitral Press Club to address the recent militant attacks on security force posts. They voiced strong support for the Pakistan Army in defending the region, with figures such as Maulana Abdur Rehman, Abdul Wali Khan, Said Ahmad Khan, Niaz A Niazi, Sifat Zareen, Haji Eidul Hussain, and others expressing appreciation for the security forces in Chitral.
The political leaders called for the concentration of security forces along the borders adjacent to Afghanistan’s Nooristan area, rather than deploying them in urban areas where there are no security threats. Additionally, they urged security force officers and district administration officials to engage civil society leaders in the planning of peace initiatives for the border regions.
