Pakistani president urges South Waziristan to resume reconstruction

ISLAMABAD, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) -- As the military operation in South Waziristan enters the final stage, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has directed the North West Frontier Province GovernorOwais Ghani to finalize the rehabilitation and reconstruction plan for the tribal agency, local media reported Monday.

The president's spokesman Farhatullah Babar told the media that a plan will be put into action soon after the operation officially ends in South Waziristan agency, the private newspaper Dawn said.

In the short term, the displaced people will be rehabilitated in their homes and the damaged infrastructure repaired. In the medium term, new developmental projects will be undertaken that provide new economic opportunities to the people, the newspaper said.

In the long term, some measures will be taken to reform the militant mind-set through education, social and political reforms and giving people ownership in major development projects through public private partnership, It added.

Meanwhile, Pakistani security forces surrounded militants strongholds at Bara in Khyber tribal agency, four militants were killed and several others were injured during clashes, the privateTV Express said.

According to Local media, 67 suspects were arrested in Bara and another five militants were apprehended during the search operation at Palai in Swat district.

There also reports said that following the military operation in South Waziristan, militants have fled to the nearby Kurram and Orakzai agency.

Pakistani army started the operation in Khyber near the Afghan border on Nov. 24 as they are conducting military operations in the neighboring tribal areas after they controlled major militants bases in South Waziristan.

According to the army statistics, Pakistani security forces have killed more than 600 militants since they launched the ground assault on Oct. 17 in South Waziristan, advancing towards the main base of Taliban militants in Pakistan.