CHITRAL, Dec 12: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ameer Haider Khan Hoti has accused American and Nato forces of harbouring the militants who were flushed out from Swat in the border areas of Afghanistan.

“The border areas of neighbouring Afghanistan are being used by terrorists,” he said at the inaugural ceremony of Chitral campus of Khan Abdul Wali Khan University here on Monday.

Mr Hoti asked Nato forces in Afghanistan to discourage the elements who were carrying out attacks inside Pakistani territory as they did in Chitral the other day.

He said that the recent US attack on the Pakistani checkposts was uncalled for and unpardonable. Evidence showed that it was a deliberate attack, he added.

He vowed to continue the fight against terrorism and eliminate terrorists at any cost as the people of the province had paid a heavy price for it. Mr Hoti said that achievement of a meaningful provincial autonomy strengthened Khyber Pakhtunkhwa financially. That was evident from the budget of the province, which has increased by 80 per cent. He claimed that the development projects launched across the province were unprecedented in magnitude. A number of schemes including Bacha Khan Khpal Rozgar scheme and Hunarmand Rozrgar scheme were launched to end unemployment, he said.

The chief minister said that the establishment of the Chitral campus of the university was another promise, which was fulfilled by his government within six months. “It will provide opportunity to the students of the area to get higher education at their doorsteps,” he added.

Mr Hoti also announced provision of Rs200 million for Garam Chashma Road, Rs80 million for construction of suspension bridge at Booni, Rs25 million for erection of protection wall to save the Chitral-Booni Road from being washed away by the river. He said that work on the 69-megawatt Lavi hydro power station would start in the month of March next for which land was already acquired.

Earlier, Provincial Minister Saleem Khan and Vice-chancellor of Khan Abdul Wali Khan University Dr Ihsan Ali Khan also addressed the ceremony. On the occasion, Colonel (retired) Sardar Mohammad Khan, Abdur Rauf, Sher Baig and a leader of PPP women wing, Khadija Sardar, announced to join ANP. They were presented red caps by the chief minister.