Badly affected by seven-month long military operation and clashes between security forces and the militants, the security situation in Bajaur tribal agency has witnessed a rapid return to normalcy following the unilateral ceasefire announced by militants on 20 February and subsequent peace agreement between the political administration and the tribal elders. The tribal people were the ultimate victim of this months long fighting in the agency, bordering the mountainous Kunar province of the neighbouring Afghanistan. Several towns and villages were completely demolished and about five hundred thousand tribesmen of the total 0.9 million population shifted to the down districts for safety.

As the overall situation in the agency is getting peaceful, few towns like Inayat Killey, Loisam, Tangkhatta and Rashakai, which have entirely been reduced to rubble, are narrating plaintive tales of the past few months. Not a single wall can be seen there standing upright. The shops, houses, mosques and other public and private buildings have been razed adding to the miseries of the internally displaced people from these areas, who are now preparing to return to their hometowns. They are still waiting for the material and financial help from the government so that they could reconstruct their demolished houses and shops. Some people in these villages were seen busy removing the rubble from their damaged buildings to start rebuilding the demolished structures on their own.

It gives a serene feeling to see the large number of displaced families going back to their native towns. The main road leading to the agency via Dir Lower remains crowded theses days with load-carrying vehicles taking the displaced tribal families and their household back to their home towns from where they were forced to leave following the August 6 military operation last year. A senior government official said that they were planning to launch a six-month long project for the reconstruction of the knocked down towns, villages and houses, but nothing was there on the ground. Everyone in the tribal agency sees it imperative that the government should immediately arrange makeshift residences within the premises of the agency for the people who have got their houses damaged or destroyed and expedite the process of reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The dazzling wheat fields, nonetheless, offer a great zeal of hope in this violence-hit agency. The spacious fields covered with wheat crop can be seen across the agency, which is an indication of the fact that even the military operation and militant activities could not stop the impoverished Bajaur people from cultivating their lands. Another positive development is returning back of many of the militants to their normal life leaving militancy. Those who are still holding the guns have also confined themselves to their hideouts. During a two-day stay in the agency, this PIPS correspondent did not see any armed Taliban militant on any of the roads where militants had a routine presence and patrolling before the truces. The security forces were seen patrolling everywhere in the agency and there was no one to resist them. The army tanks and other vehicles were seen even in areas that were inaccessible for them a few months back.

The Taliban head in the agency Maulvi Faqir Mohammad told PIPS that they would not allow anybody to breach the ceasefire. Although Faqir Muhammad expressed his ignorance about the 28-point agreement reached between the political administration and elders of Mamond tribe yet he said he was willing to accept any peace initiative as they (militants) did not want to continue clashes with their own security forces which were falling hard on the common people of the agency.

He said that the political administration of Bajaur Agency had accepted the seven demands presented by the Taliban. These demands included rehabilitation of the affected people, withdrawal of army troops from the agency, permanent end to the military operation, release of detained tribesmen, reconstruction of the demolished houses and compensation to the victims of the operation.

As far as the agreement between the tribal elders and political administration is concerned all its points go against the standpoint of the militants. It seems that the militants have agreed to accept all the conditions of the government for brining peace to the volatile tribal region.

The 28 points of the agreement are as follow:

1. All the militant organizations established with any name in the entire tribal agency would be dismantled.
2. Affiliates of all the militant organizations including Maulana Faqir Muhammad, Jan Wali alias Sheena, Haji Said Muhammad and Wali Rehman would lay down their arms and accept writ of the government. Decision of the respective tribes and sub-tribes will be binding upon all these people.
3. Every militant, who sheds weapons, will get himself registered with reference to his tribe so that he could easily be monitored. His respective tribe will guarantee his good conduct.
4. If in future there arises any need for an organization for the betterment of the tribesmen the respective tribe can do so after mutual consultation and approval of the political authorities.
5. Parallel administration will not be allowed and writ of the government of Pakistan will prevail in the area. Political authorities will be consulted for the resolution of problems that might surface. The administration and the tribal elders would solve these problems in accordance with the FCR and tribal traditions.
6. No foreigner will be allowed in the area. Foreigner can neither own nor rent any house in the agency. The respective tribe will be required to take action at the indication of the government if it received reports of the presence of any foreigner in the agency.
7. A 10-member committee comprising two persons from the political administration and 1 each from the 8 tribes will overlook implementation of the agreement.
8. No government official or security personnel will be targeted for any reason whatsoever, nor would any harm be done to their equipments or property. No government official or security man would be kidnapped. Security personnel would patrol the area as per routine before the militancy and there would be no bar on their movement.
9. None of the Bajaur tribe or tribesmen would indulge in terrorist activity in the tribal area or elsewhere in Pakistan nor would abet any one else. The tribesmen would not allow its territory to be used by terrorists nor would it allow cross border movement of the militants.
10. No government or developmental work will be obstructed but rather facilitated by the tribesmen. No national of foreign contractor of any developmental project would be harmed and the political authorities would be contacted if there were any complaint over any such project.
11. No negative propaganda will be made against the government or its institutions, especially during Friday sermons in the mosques. Political speeches will also be banned during these sermons.
12. Illegal FM radio channels would not be allowed and if any one found the respective tribe would be fined rupees one million.
13. No criminal from anywhere in the country would be given refuge.
14. No training camp will be allowed anywhere in Bajaur Agency. If any such camp was reported, the authorities will act against such camp and would take action in accordance with the FCR law and every tribe of the agency would support that action.
15. No illegal tax would be collected from the tribesmen.
16. No male would be allowed to wear mask, uniform nor would be armed patrolling allowed in the agency. If a tribe wished to carry out armed patrolling to ensure peace that would be done after the approval of the authorities.
17. Arms ban in government places, which was there before the militancy, would continue. Besides, ban would stay in placed on carrying heavy weapons. Violators will be punishable by fine and other penalties.
18. Any violation of the agreement will be reported to political authorities, which would ask the 10-member committee to probe into the matter within three days. In case of any delay, the government reserves its right to act.
19. If committee confirms any violation, the tribe would act against the violator and if needed, government along with the security forces would help the tribe.
20. FC check posts would remain there in the agency, while no objection would be made in establishing new check posts.
21.  The respective tribe would be required to find and punish any person or group involved in terrorist activity such as planting IEDs or firing missiles.
22. No action will be taken against tribal elders loyal to the government. The tribe would act against any such person who would discreetly attack any such tribal elder.
23. If proved, violator of the agreement will be punished by the Political Agent in accordance with the FCR.
24. Government reserves it right to retaliate any attack against the government personnel or installations.
25.  Respective tribe will be responsible for the safety of government places such as schools, hospitals, check posts and if they failed to do so, the tribe will be punishable under collective responsibility act.
26. All the religious seminaries would get themselves registered with the government and no new seminary can be established without the prior permission of the authorities. The administration would be allowed to examine/monitor seminaries in the tribal agency.
27. The Mamond tribesmen have signed this agreement with the political authorities for the sake of peace in Bajaur and no external pressure will be accepted in this regard.
28.  Guarantee.