PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Army Peshawar corps commander says, “Security forceswill be withdrawn from erstwhile Fata within two years.

A limited number of troops will be stationed there to maintain peace andborder vigilance,” said Lt Gen Shaheen Mazhar Mehmood while addressing themedia in erstwhile Fata on Sunday.

“Troops withdrawal is conditional as it largely depends on peace andstability on the western border,” the corps commander added.

On the fencing issue, Lt Gen Mehmood said, “The only motive behind it is tostop cross border movements and to address the grievances of Kabul, whichclaims that militants come from across the border.

To stop that, we have started fencing and the national exchequer is bearingthe cost.

“We have also started military operations in erstwhile Fata to dismantleterrorist safe havens on our side of the border. We did it at the cost ofofficers, jawans and civilians as we are committed to peace in the region.”

Lt Gen Mehmood said no more military operations would be carried out in theseven tribal districts as it was time for development and economic revival.