KOHAT, Oct 18: Corps commander, Peshawar Lieutenant General Asif Yaseen Malik on Tuesday said success against militancy in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas was not possible until peace lashkars were strengthened.

Talking to a peace lashkar and tribal elders of Arakhel area in Jawaki, frontier region of Kohat during a meeting here, Lt-Gen Asif said under the government’s new policy, peace lashkars were being made stronger for a decisive role in the fight against terrorism in the restive region.

He said peace lashkars should block the re-entry of militants to their respective areas and that was possible only if all tribesmen got together against militancy.

The peace lashkar and tribal elders from Manderi, Ghariba and Paya areas apprised the corps commander of education, communications, health and irrigation problems in their respective areas.

Lt-Gen Asif assured them of early solution of the problems and asked them to help the security forces maintain peace in their areas.

General officer commanding of Pakistan Army’s 9th division Major-General Rizwan Akhtar, commissioner Kohat division Sahibzada Anis, political agent of FR, Kohat and district coordination officer, Kohat Shahidullah Khan, assistant political agent of FR Kohat Fakharuddin and senior military and civil officials were also in attendance.

He later visited the Army Public School in Kohat cantonment area and met teachers, students and staff. — Correspondent