Daily Times

KHYBER AGENCY: Frontier Corps Inspector General Major General Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood on Tuesday said that the youths in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) were a major target of terrorists’ propaganda, and it was the responsibility of every single elder to play his due role to save the future generation from the curse.

Talking to a 50-member jirga of tribal elders, which called on him in Bara, the IG said that following a crushing blow from security agencies, the terrorists had adopted a new strategy of inducting tribal youth in order to execute their ill designs. “Besides parents, the tribal elites should keep their eyes open and foil any attempt of the miscreants to misguide the tribal youths,” the FC IG remarked. He assured the elders that Bara would soon be opened for trading activities, while development work would also be initiated throughout the tehsil on a priority basis.

Earlier, the tribal elders informed the IG about the problems they had been facing. They said that peace had been restored in Bara, so economic activities should also be resumed in the area to allow tribesmen to earn their livelihood.

Meanwhile, the FC IG inaugurated a colourful three-day-long spring festival in the Akakhel area of Bara tehsil.

Political Agent Khalaid Mehmood, security forces and administration officials, tribal elders and a large number of tribesmen were among the participants.

Children of different educational institutions presented national songs to enthral the audience, while a number of games had also been arranged for students.

Moreover, gymnasts exhibited their best talents, while tug-of-war competitions were also held on the occasion.

The visiting officials lauded the efforts of the organisers as well as the performers.