(MENAFN- Tribal News Network) MIRANSHAH, 23 February: The civil and military authorities have assured the tribal elders of the North Waziristan that the Ghulam Khan route would be opened for bilateral trade with Afghanistan in the first week of March.

According to local sources, an 80-member delegation comprising tribal elders and notables of Utmanzai tribe called on the General Officer Commanding of 7 division and the political agent of the agency on Friday.

The tribal elders apprised the authorities of the collective problems being faced by the tribesmen. Key decisions were taken in the meeting for the resolution of the problems.

The tribal elders were informed about the positive developments made with Afghan authorities to remove hurdles in the smooth repatriation of the tribesmen, who had moved to Afghanistan due to militancy and army operations. The authorities said the displaced families would soon be repatriated to their homes.

The delegates were told that the condition of watan card for entry inot agency had been done away with and the tribesmen could enter the agency by showing their national identity cards. They were further told that security personnel manning certain check posts had been asked to refrain from conducting body searches of the tribesmen.

The meeting was told that the neither the political administration nor the 7 division had any missing tribesman. The tribesmen were assured that the civil administration and the military authorities would honor the sanctity of the tribal tradition.

The tribesmen were informed that a colonel rank officer had been assigned to monitor the activities of non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The officials said that the NGOs' managements would be asked to give 80 percent employment to local tribesmen.

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