Fears over terror attacks in KP in retaliation against NATO cross-border strikes

PESHAWAR - Fears are being expressed that the recent attacks by NATO and the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Pakistani territory could invite a backlash in the shape of terror attacks across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to sources, KP Governor Owais Ahmad Ghani has expressed concerns over a possible backlash of these attacks and a report in this regard has been sent to the Centre expressing his reservations, The Nation reported.

The reservations included the detailed reports from FATA Secretariat, political agent Kurram and Bajaur Agencies and law enforcement agencies.

Informing senior officials of the security forces and the federal government about possible attacks that might hit KP in retaliation against the recent violations of Pakistani border and airspace by NATO and US forces, Ghani urged them to take strong measures for avoiding such attacks in future.

Meanwhile, security officials based in North Waziristan have disclosed that these attacks, along with massive drone attacks in North Waziristan, were aimed at pressurising the Pakistan Army to launch a military operation in the region.

According to them, while both the forces and the local Taliban in North Waziristan, abiding by peace deals in the areas, were observing restraint against attacking each other, the escalating drone attacks were an attempt to provoke militants, which could start a renewed war in the area.

They said that the tribesmen in the region, acting patiently, had opted for peaceful protests against the drone attacks, as shops and markets remained closed in the four main towns of North Waziristan yesterday.

The CIA has launched at least 20 drone attacks killed around 120 people in Pakistan thus far in September, the highest number of attacks during a single month, and more than twice the number in a typical month. (ANI)