Daily Times

PESHAWAR: Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday said terrorists would not be allowed to derail the stability of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asif Ghafoor, the top general said this during his visit to Parachinar and Peshawar. The COAS was given a detailed briefing on Saturday’s bombing in Parachinar. The top general visited the Kurram Agency hospital to meet the injured people. He also met tribal elders of the Agency, the ISPR spokesman said.

General Bajwa lauded the support of tribal people in combating terrorism and acknowledged their sacrifices for peace. He said that with their support the army, FC and other law enforcers have done a great job in stabilising the area and terrorists will fail to derail it.

The COAS lauded their efforts in maintaining tribal and sectarian harmony which is source of national integration. He said, “Pakistan belongs to all of us without any religious, provincial, tribal, linguistic, ethnic, sectarian or any other discrimination.”

On the tribal people’s demand, the COAS announced to establish a campus of Army Public School in Parachinar. Tribal elders thanked the top general for sharing their sorrow and announcing the school. They pledged to continue supporting efforts for enduring peace and stability. The chief was accompanied by Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Nazir Ahmed Butt.

General Bajwa said the Pakistan Army was committed to punishing the bombing perpetrators and would spare no efforts to bring those responsible for the Parachinar bombing to the courts.

The chief of army staff said, “Pakistan belongs to all of us without any religious, provincial, tribal, linguistic, ethnic, sectarian or any other discrimination.”

He ordered officers for exemplary punishment to those who were involved in the bombing.

He prayed for the departed souls.

The army chief also prayed for early recovery of the injured and asked the officials to provide best treatment to them. He said that the heirs of the dead and injured would be helped.

The army chief also visited the blast scene. Strict security measures were taken in Kurram Agency during his visit.

All markets and shops in Parachinar remained closed on the day.

Earlier, the army chief said on Saturday after terrorists rocked Parachinar Bazaar, “Terrorists will fail in their attempt to regain lost relevance.”

According to a statement issued by ISPR, the army chief said terrorists will fail at all fronts.

At least 24 people were killed and 87 others were injured as the banned terrorist outfit Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan bombed the Sabzi Mandi, a spokesperson for the health directorate of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas said in a statement issued in Peshawar.

Ikramullah Khan, a senior government official in Parachinar, said that the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) which was hidden in a vegetable box. The explosion was remote-controlled, a bomb disposal squad official said.

Kurram Agency is one of the most sensitive tribal areas as it borders three Afghan provinces and at one point was one of the key routes for militant movement across the border. It has witnessed scores of attacks and kidnappings for ransom incidents in the past several years.

The agency is adjacent to North Waziristan where Operation Zarb-e-Azb is in progress against the Tehreek-i-Taliban and other insurgent groups. The army had also launched an offensive against terrorists in 2011.

Parachinar is the administrative headquarters of the agency near the Afghan border. It is small garrison town developed by the British Army in the foothill of Spin Ghar (White Mountain) in mid-1895. The town’s total population is about 40,000 comprising people of different tribes, races and faiths.