A 50-member delegation of local elders from Bajaur held crucial talks with Taliban militants from Afghanistan in the Laghde Mamond area, urging them to either return to Afghanistan or move to remote mountainous regions away from civilian populations.
The Taliban have requested time until noon tomorrow (Saturday) to respond to the elders’ demands.
The jirga was led by Bajaur Peace Jirga Chairman Gul Karim Khan and senior tribal leader Haroon Rashid. Two sitting members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Dr. Hameedur Rehman and Anwar Zeb Khan, also participated in the negotiations.
Sources within the jirga told Samaa TV that the elders conveyed the growing frustration and fear among locals due to the Taliban’s presence in the area.
“The people are suffering. Your presence here is causing unease. You should either go back to Afghanistan or shift to the mountains away from populated regions,” the elders told the Taliban during the meeting.
The jirga also expressed willingness to request the Pakistani government to facilitate the militants’ return to Afghanistan if they agreed to leave voluntarily.
In response, the Taliban representatives said they would consult with their leadership across the border in Afghanistan and requested time until noon tomorrow to reach a decision.
“We understand your concerns and need to discuss this with our leadership. Give us until tomorrow,” the Taliban reportedly told the jirga.
