Army won’t abandon tribals: Gen Kayani

ISLAMABAD – Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, on Monday assured the tribesmen of Waziristan Agency that the Pakistan Army would not abandon them and continue playing its role in rehabilitation of the displaced people and development of the area.

He held out these assurances while talking to notables of Mehsud and Wazir tribes during ground-breaking ceremonies of two major projects including Tank-Jandola-Sararogha-Makeen Road and Tank-Khajuri-Tanai-Wana Road. He also reviewed progress on quick impact projects for the rehabilitation of the displaced people.

These projects are being undertaken by the Pakistan Army, in consultation with local tribes and in coordination with the civil administration. The COAS emphasised the need for rapid development of the area to consolidate gains made through Military Operations.

General Kayani asked the local tribesmen to come forward and assume ownership of the development works being initiated in their areas.

Earlier, the COAS visited South Waziristan and met with Army Officers and Jawans participating in the Operation Rah-e-Nijat. He mixed up with officers and Jawans and praised their morale and professionalism.
Gen Kayani said that the officers and jawans of Pakistan Army made the operation successful by sacrificing their lives, adding the Army has complete support of the nation and the operation to be completed soon.