PESHAWAR, June 15: New vigilante groups that have formed in Akakhel area have provided breathing space for the Adezai Qaumi Lashkar, which alone had been facing off the militants in the Frontier Region of Peshawar so far.

Volunteers of the Adezai lashkar however say they are continuing night patrols in their area to fight off militants' raids.

Observers say the two blasts on Matani-Akakhel Road in the first week of June and killing of tribal people in passenger vans show that militants are determined to target the entire Akakhel tribe.

Police officials point out that the militants need Akakhel area of FR Peshawar for their movements to other districts, especially Kohat and Nowshera, and also to Khyber Agency.

The FIRs of the two bomb blasts at Matani Bazaar have been registered against a militants group, led by Aurangzeb alias Naray and Jangrez. Belonging to Adezai village, these militants have escaped to tribal regions leaving behind their houses and other properties, according to sources.Sources believe that militants of the said group are responsible for most of the sabotage acts in Peshawar.

Hundreds of volunteers of peace bodies have been killed and injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Fata during the past three years. However, Adezai lashkar is the worst affected body in settled areas.

Located at the border of Darra Adamkhel, Adezai is strategically important area as it is the first entry point for those, who enter from the semi-tribal region into the provincial metropolis.

According to police officials, militants enter Peshawar from Mohmand via Michini and from Khyber Agency via Sarband, Achini and Akakhel areas. Now, other areas seem to have been covered to some extent but Badbher and Matani are still unsafe, police say.

It is hard fortune of Adezai villagers as they have to block entry of militants from Akakhel to Peshawar.

The deputy chief of Adezai Qaumi Lashkar, Fazal Malik, says that the volunteers of his peace body are always ready to fight militants as they are performing night duties without any negligence.

“The first target of militants is now the recently formed lashkars in Akakhel as anti-Taliban volunteers are regularly supporting security forces in identification of saboteurs at checkpoints,” he adds.

Mr Malik says that peace bodies in semi-tribal regions can play vital role in fighting against terrorists. “We can't stop fighting against Taliban as they have killed our commanders, family heads and children in clashes and suicide bombings,” he says.

He adds that many of his relatives and friends have asked him to go abroad but he will not do so till a logical end of the conflict. He says that about 70 members of their lashkar have been killed so far in suicide bombings and target killings.

SP Abdul Kalam Khan says that Peshawar is completely under control of police but the main cause of terror acts in the city is that it shares borders with Fata.

“The distance between the borders of Peshawar and tribal region is not more than 12 metres. That's why militants and criminals can easily enter Peshawar and escape after committing crimes,” he adds. He says that it is need of the hour to uproot militants from Fata.

Mr Khan says that militants have no facilitators in rural areas of Peshawar but they can easily enter Peshawar from their safe havens, located in Fata.

In Peshawar, he says, there is no 'no-go-area' but the area is so vast that it cannot be controlled at night due to low visibility.

However, he appreciates anti-Taliban volunteers and community police for showing bravery against militants and rendering sacrifices.