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Jirga formed for Waziristan peace

ISLAMABAD: A 45-member grand tribal jirga, or council of elders, was formed on Sunday to restore peace in Pakistan's troubled tribal region bordering Afghanistan, said Pakistani officials.

The jirga will begin its activities in Miranshah, the headquarters of Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal region, from July 20, said an official statement issued by the Governor's Secretariat of North West Frontier Province in Peshawar. The jirga will start activities a few days before the expiry of the one-month temporary ceasefire from the local Taliban in North Waziristan.

Pakistani security forces said they have killed more than 300 militants, including 75 foreigners in North Waziristan, and the Government also claimed killing of Al-Qaeda members in North Waziristan. Pakistan says it has deployed about 80,000 troops in the region.— Xinhua

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