LADDAH: Chief of the Army Staff Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said on Thursday that army would be withdrawn from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) when tribal people were able to take up their responsibilities.

Addressing separate jirgas of Ahmadzai Wazir and Mehsud tribes in Wana and Chegmalai areas of South Waziristan, he said the army had played an important role in eradicating militancy and restoring peace in the region.

Pakistan has deployed over 100,000 regular and paramilitary troops in Fata to flush out the Taliban from the area.

The army chief blamed foreign elements for the situation in Fata. He said: “The army will leave the area when tribesmen are capable of fulfilling their responsibilities.”

Under the Frontier Crimes Regulations, tribal people have certain responsibilities, including protection of roads, government installations and officials and keep their areas clear of anti-state and anti-social elements.

He inaugurated the Wana Cadet College and performed ground-breaking ceremony of Wana-Angoor Adda Road. He said the road would help to boost trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan.