PESHAWAR, Sept 12: NWFP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani has said that foreign forces based in Afghanistan and militants are working on the same anti-Pakistan agenda and both are following the same strategy to weaken the country.

In a statement issued here on Friday, Mr Ghani said that while the coalition troops were threatening to extend their war to Pakistan, the militants also were attacking the country and creating a war-like situation. It appeared that both the forces were working on the same agenda to weaken Pakistan, he said.

He said the situation was worrying for every patriotic citizen. However, he said, the government had the resolve to defend the borders and citizens of the country and there must not be any doubt in this respect.

We may go to any extent to protect the soil of the country and its people. The anti-Pakistan elements will not last long, he said.

The governor condemned the killing of two kidnapped police recruits in Orakzai Agency and three personnel of Bajaur Scouts in Bajaur Agency.

APP adds: Talking to a TV channel, the governor said a jirga of elders from South Waziristan had called on him and praised the stand taken by army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani about the tribal areas.

I apprised them of the government’s policy and they said the statement issued by the military commander, which has been supported by the prime minister, reflected the aspirations of the tribal people in particular and the people of Pakistan in general, he said.

Replying to a question, he said the situation in Afghanistan was worsening but the people and armed forces of Pakistan would defend their motherland at all cost.

He warned that Pakistan’s role in the war on terror would be affected if the US forces continued their cross-border actions.

MINI JIRGA: NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani held on Friday a preliminary meeting for convening a mini Pakistan-Afghan Jirga in Islamabad after Eidul Fitr.

According to an official handout, prominent tribal elders from Fata, NWFP’s peace envoy Afrasyab Khattak, Senator Prof Mohammad Ibrahim and senior officials attended the meeting.

The governor told the participants that Pakistan-Afghan Loya Jirga, held in Kabul on August 9 to 11, had mandated the formation of the mini jirga to promote dialogue and mediation between warring factions.