By Abdul Sami Paracha
KOHAT, June 19: Inaction of the political administration in securing the release of 18 coal miners kidnapped from the semi-tribal Darra Adamkhel region is causing frustration.
Relatives and others complain that 10 days have passed since the miners were kidnapped but the political administration has neither formed a jirga nor taken any other step to secure their freedom.
An official told Dawn , on condition of anonymity, that there were proofs that the coal miners were abducted by Taliban but authorities just asked them to search their whereabouts in Darra Adamkhel and wait for further orders.
“The government is afraid of blaming Taliban of Tariq Afridi group for abduction of miners, fearing reprisal in the shape of terrorist attacks. The government is not resourceful enough to negotiate with Taliban through any means,” he added.
He said that elders of the area failed several times to persuade Taliban to listen to the requests of traditional jirgas. “Tariq Afridi, who hails from Darra Adamkhel, always ignores the decisions of jirga elders and terms it a part of anti-Taliban campaign,” the official said.
However, political administration said that Taliban had not claimed responsibility for kidnapping of miners therefore they could not say as to who was involved in the incident.
The political administration didn`t divulge what it would have done for the release of miners had Taliban claimed responsibility for their kidnapping. Sources said that more than 100 armed men of a group of Taliban had kidnapped 27 coal miners on June 10 from the area controlled by its rival Momin Khan Afridi in Darra Adamkhel.
The kidnapped miners were taken to Khyber Agency, however, nine of them managed to escape while 18 were taken away.
The kidnapped persons belong to various districts of the province and used to work at coal mines in Balkikhel and Goriakhel localities of Akhorwal area, the stronghold of Momin Khan Afridi`s peace movement. The peace movement was launched against Taliban for safety of local tribesmen. The Pirwal locality in the same area is a stronghold of Tariq Afridi group of Taliban.
The people of Darra Bazaar were supporting Momin Khan against Taliban, who asked khasadars to leave government jobs and tribesmen to help them enforce their own style of Sharia.
Taliban had also asked tribesmen not to allow army convoys to pass through Darra Adamkhel. Taliban had blown up dozens of schools and bridges besides carrying out suicide blasts inside Kohat tunnel, hospitals and other installations. Sources said that local tribesmen, led by Momin Khan, wanted to save those places from Taliban but they were weak in terms of arms and manpower.
“Although he is considered a pro-government elder, Momin Khan doesn`t get any kind of official help for protecting the Indus Highway and tribal elders,” they added.
Sources said that there were 850 khasadars and 550 tribal elders, who got monthly salary from government, but they were not performing their duties actively owing to fear of Taliban, who had killed and kidnapped several officials since 2007. (By Dawn)
Relatives and others complain that 10 days have passed since the miners were kidnapped but the political administration has neither formed a jirga nor taken any other step to secure their freedom.
An official told Dawn , on condition of anonymity, that there were proofs that the coal miners were abducted by Taliban but authorities just asked them to search their whereabouts in Darra Adamkhel and wait for further orders.
“The government is afraid of blaming Taliban of Tariq Afridi group for abduction of miners, fearing reprisal in the shape of terrorist attacks. The government is not resourceful enough to negotiate with Taliban through any means,” he added.
He said that elders of the area failed several times to persuade Taliban to listen to the requests of traditional jirgas. “Tariq Afridi, who hails from Darra Adamkhel, always ignores the decisions of jirga elders and terms it a part of anti-Taliban campaign,” the official said.
However, political administration said that Taliban had not claimed responsibility for kidnapping of miners therefore they could not say as to who was involved in the incident.
The political administration didn`t divulge what it would have done for the release of miners had Taliban claimed responsibility for their kidnapping. Sources said that more than 100 armed men of a group of Taliban had kidnapped 27 coal miners on June 10 from the area controlled by its rival Momin Khan Afridi in Darra Adamkhel.
The kidnapped miners were taken to Khyber Agency, however, nine of them managed to escape while 18 were taken away.
The kidnapped persons belong to various districts of the province and used to work at coal mines in Balkikhel and Goriakhel localities of Akhorwal area, the stronghold of Momin Khan Afridi`s peace movement. The peace movement was launched against Taliban for safety of local tribesmen. The Pirwal locality in the same area is a stronghold of Tariq Afridi group of Taliban.
The people of Darra Bazaar were supporting Momin Khan against Taliban, who asked khasadars to leave government jobs and tribesmen to help them enforce their own style of Sharia.
Taliban had also asked tribesmen not to allow army convoys to pass through Darra Adamkhel. Taliban had blown up dozens of schools and bridges besides carrying out suicide blasts inside Kohat tunnel, hospitals and other installations. Sources said that local tribesmen, led by Momin Khan, wanted to save those places from Taliban but they were weak in terms of arms and manpower.
“Although he is considered a pro-government elder, Momin Khan doesn`t get any kind of official help for protecting the Indus Highway and tribal elders,” they added.
Sources said that there were 850 khasadars and 550 tribal elders, who got monthly salary from government, but they were not performing their duties actively owing to fear of Taliban, who had killed and kidnapped several officials since 2007. (By Dawn)
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