Army complexes won't be set up in tribal areas

Islamabad: The government is not interested in establishing permanent infrastructures for the army in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the spokesman of interior ministry said.

Denying recent reports, Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema told a weekly press briefing the government is building the capacity of the Frontier Corps as well as strengthening the Frontier Constabulary.

"The moves are part of its multi-pronged strategy to ensure peace and stability for the development of the region and welfare of the people in tribal areas." Cheema said.

He hoped that all tribes would cooperate with the government "in their own interest and in the larger interest of the country".

Regarding the ongoing hostage crisis surrounding soldiers in the Mehsud dominated area of South Waziristan, he said negotiations were underway with the tribes.

"There are encouraging signs that the issue will be resolved amicably with the help of tribal elders and the soldiers would be released safely and unconditionally at the earliest," Cheema said.

"There have been losses on the sides of the militants also," he said, adding the government was engaged in resolving the matter peacefully through the political agent and various development projects in the tribal areas.