24 Bajaur militants surrender
KHAR: Twenty-four militants including three commanders surrendered to the security forces while a huge quantity of heavy weapons and explosives were recovered during a search operation in Mamond subdivision in Bajaur Agency on Sunday.
Official sources said 21 militants laid down arms during a jirga of Mamond tribal elders. The names of the militants or their commanders were not disclosed to the media. They reportedly belonged to Mukha, Gabari, Meena, Kaga, Landai, Bandarai, and Zagai areas of Mamond tehsil.
Besides tribal elders, officials of political administration and security forces were also present on the occasion. The militants who renounced militancy promised to the jirga and officials to live in peace and not indulge in any kind of anti-state activities.
Briefing reporters in Meena area, the in-charge of military operation in Mamond tehsil, Lt Col Ali Naqvi said the security forces had 85 Russian-made Kalashnikov rifles, 23 rocket launchers, 23 rockets, 40 artillery shells, 12 mortar shells, five remote-controlled bombs, short-range missiles, scores of hand-grenades and explosives during search and clean-up operation in Lara Mukha, Bara Mukha, Kaga, Zagai and Bandarai areas. He said the militants had concealed the arms and explosives in abandoned houses, caves, bunkers and hideouts in the hilly areas.
He said the tribesmen should register their small arms and hand over the heavy ones to the security forces. The weapons were shown to media. The political administration has set July 31 deadline for the tribesmen to hand over heavy weapons to the government and register the small ones.
Pakistan News Service - PakTribune
