Zardari's green signal to rename NWFP as Pakhtunkhwa

Islamabad, Jan 23 (ANI): Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari had given a green signal to the renaming of the North West Frontier Province as Pakhtunkhwa, saying the constitutional requirements in this regard would be met, sources have said.

Zardari indicated in a high-level meeting on rising militancy in NWFP, and said the government would engage in peaceful negotiations with the militants, who stopped challenging writ of the government.

Presiding over a meeting on issues related to NWFP (reported as Pakhtunkhwa in the official release), the President said the government had embarked on the strategy of dialogue, development and deterrence to root out the menace of extremism from the country.

He asserted that dialogue for a political settlement in the disturbed regions with those who did not challenge the writ of the state, was also part of the government's strategy to deal with the situation.

"Use of force is the last option in the war against terrorism," The Nation quoted Zardari, as saying.

The President directed the Interior Adviser to furnish a detailed report within a week on the measures taken to beef up the police force in the province and also on what further needed to be done.

He said the social and economic structures of the province and tribal areas were being strengthened. The needs and requirements of the law enforcement agencies would be fulfilled in the NWFP, he added.

Zardari said peace was the foremost priority and the government had pressed into service all the available resources to bring stability in the regions affected by extremism. (ANI)